Some children lost loved ones. Others still bear the mental scars of having lived through the terrifying disaster - the country’s biggest earthquake in generations.
YANGON, 28 March 2026 - Children who lost homes and loved ones a year ago in Myanmar’s devastating earthquake [1] are struggling to come to terms with their ordeal, said Save the Children, calling for humanitarian needs in the Southeast Asian country not to be overlooked.
The powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck central Myanmar, with its epicentre located near the cities of Mandalay and Sagaing, and killed more than 3,800 people, causing extensive destruction and leaving about 6.3 million people in need of immediate assistance. [2]
Some children lost loved ones. Others still bear the mental scars of having lived through the terrifying disaster - the country’s biggest earthquake in generations.
Save the Children and its partners have a presence in most of the earthquake-affected areas in Myanmar and were among the first to help affected children and families, providing essential lifesaving emergency relief items.
The children’s charity helped to set up safe spaces for children to play and recover and provided mental health and psychosocial support to nearly 30,000 people, including over 9,000 children, to help them overcome the traumatic experience they experienced.
Myat Nyein*, 16, from Shan State, lost his mother during the earthquake. He said he misses her, particularly when it’s time to do homework as she always used to help him.
Myat Nyein* said:
“I think I have changed a lot over the past year since the earthquake. I was a bit playful before, but I am not now. I feel like I have suddenly become an adult. After losing my mother, I cannot go out and have fun with friends as I used to. I also need to help my father, care for my elderly grandmother, and look after my brother.”
Save the Children provided Myat Nyein*’s family with immediate emergency life-saving support, including food and water after the earthquake.
Myat Nyein’s family sheltered at a local monastery for a few months before they were able to return to their partially repaired house. Myat Nyein* and his younger brother received mental health and psychosocial support to ensure their overall wellbeing and received child support to cover basic needs, including health expenses and education.
Many homes and schools were destroyed during the earthquake, forcing families and children to live and learn in temporary shelters although most have since returned to their homes.
Arshad Malik, Asia Regional Director, Save the Children, said Save the Children was urging donors not to allow Myanmar’s children to be forgotten as other global crises compete for attention and resources.
“Myanmar’s earthquake might have been over in mere moments but the impacts of a disaster like that reverberate long after tragedy strikes. Children in Myanmar are still dealing with fear, grief and loss. The work that our teams have done on the ground amid very challenging circumstances shows how important it is that we put children’s needs first following a disaster – not only in the first hours and days but in the months and years after. Rebuilding lives doesn’t happen overnight and takes sustained support.”
Save the Children and its partners distributed food, drinking water and emergency kits containing blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, personal hygiene items, tarpaulin, and rope for temporary shelters after the earthquake. One year on, Save the Children’s response has reached over 275,000 people, including about 80,000 children.
Save the Children and partners also screened and treated children for malnutrition and provided emergency healthcare and first aid medical services, including treatment for communicable diseases and maternal healthcare services. The charity also repaired damaged water points.
Myanmar remains one of the countries in Asia-Pacific with the highest humanitarian needs and essential services remain under pressure – particularly in communities already affected by armed conflict and displacement. Currently, about 16 million people—more than 45% of the population —need life-saving assistance and protection services, including 5 million children. [3]
Save the Children has worked in Myanmar since 1995, providing life-saving healthcare, food and nutrition, education and child protection programs.
References:
[1] 2025 Myanmar earthquake: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Myanmar_earthquake
[2] End of Mission Report United Nations Disaster Assessment & Coordination (UNDAC) - Earthquake 7.7M Response – Myanmar: https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/end-mission-report-united-nations-disaster-assessment-coordination-undac-earthquake-77m-response-myanmar-29mar-16apr-2025
[3] 2026 Myanmar HNRP: https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/myanmar-humanitarian-needs-and-response-plan-2026-enmy
Spokepersons
Amy Sawitta Lefevre, Global Media Manager: Asia
Amy.Lefevre@savethechildren.org
