How DEC charities are delivering aid in Myanmar

7 April 2025

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake has devastated huge areas of Myanmar, affecting millions of people. The full scale of the earthquake’s impact will take time to emerge, but some immediate impacts include:

More than 3,500 people confirmed dead
More than 5,000 people injured
Around 1 in 3 houses in Sagaing township – the worst hit area - have collapsed
At least 120,000 buildings have been destroyed

19.9 million people – a third of the population – already needed humanitarian support before the earthquake, and 15 million people were facing food insecurity. Now the humanitarian crisis is growing by the day.

Hundreds of people are still missing. Many more have no access to the safe shelter, clean water, food, and medical care they need to survive. Cash, vouchers, psychological support, livelihood support, infrastructure repairs and more are also in desperate need.

How DEC charities are responding in Myanmar

DEC charities are on the ground already in affected communities and are working hard to access remote areas. The charities have been working in Myanmar for decades and have a strong local partner base, rooted in the affected communities and able to rapidly respond despite the challenges.

International NGOs are working with local partners to reach the affected communities with urgently needed aid. DEC charities are experienced in working with their local partner organisations to reach communities in need across the country.

Where are donations being spent?

Donations to the Myanmar Earthquake Appeal will be used to support communities affected by the earthquake across the country, but particularly in the areas hardest hit by the earthquake around Sagaing, Mandalay and Shan State. All 15 of the DEC member charities are responding in Myanmar – either directly through country offices, or through their local partner organisations.

14 of the 15 DEC member charities were either directly operating or working through local partners in Myanmar before the earthquake. They are now scaling up their work to support people with emergency medical care, shelter, food, clean water, cash, basic supplies and psychological support.

Examples of how DEC charities are supporting people

Here are a few of the many ways DEC charities and their local partners are supporting those affected:

World Vision is providing hygiene kits and NFI (non-food items) kits like blankets, mosquito nets, cooking equipment, utensils and more. The charity has also been establishing child-friendly spaces for education and psychological support.
Save the Children is supporting survivors with drinking water, food, psychosocial support and medical care. They are closely working with local partners to scale up relief efforts. The charity aims to provide further cash support, access to clean water, and hygiene items.
Red Cross teams are working in Myanmar to conduct search and rescues, provide emergency healthcare, and distribute aid, as well as reconnecting families separated by the crisis.
Care International is prioritising food and clean water, safe shelter along with blankets and tarpaulins, cash or vouchers for urgent needs, and health and medical services.
Plan International has already been responding in impacted areas, and is now scaling up their work to provide food, shelter, clean drinking water, child protection and emotional support.