Myanmar Red Cross volunteer speaks with people displaced by the powerful, 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on 28 March, 2025.
Myanmar Red Cross volunteer speaks with people displaced by the powerful, 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on 28 March, 2025.
Myanmar Red Cross volunteer speaks with people displaced by the powerful, 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on 28 March, 2025.
Photo: Myanmar Red Cross Society
The IFRC launches an emergency appeal: 'Urgent need for global solidarity'
Yangon/Kuala Lumpur/Geneva, 30 March 2025 — After the powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on 28 March 2025, the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) teams were immediately deployed to support communities affected. The destruction has been extensive, and humanitarian needs are growing by the hour.
In the face of this devastation, the MRCS has mobilized hundreds of trained volunteers to provide urgent assistance. Within hours, MRCS activated its Emergency Operations Center and launched search and rescue efforts. Volunteers are administering first aid, providing pre-hospital care, distributing emergency relief items such as blankets, tarpaulins, and hygiene kits, and deploying mobile health teams to the most affected communities.
“Despite facing damage to their own homes and facilities, Red Cross volunteers have acted with courage and speed to help their neighbors,” said Alexander Matheou, Regional Director for Asia Pacific at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). “The magnitude of this disaster is substantial, and the need for support is urgent.”
MRCS also provides mental health and psychosocial support and assists families who have been separated through its Restoring Family Links programme, supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). With temperatures rising and the monsoon season approaching in just weeks, there is an urgent need to stabilize affected communities before secondary crises emerge.
IFRC Launches Emergency Appeal
To scale up support, the IFRC launches an Emergency Appeal for 100 million CHF to assist 100,000 people (20,000 households) with life-saving relief and early recovery support over the next 24 months. Two million CHF were released through the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF) to support the operation immediately.
“This is not just a disaster; it is a complex humanitarian crisis layered over existing vulnerabilities,” Matheou added. “Myanmar continues to face internal displacement and food insecurity. This earthquake exacerbates an already fragile situation. The global community must step forward to support a bold and sustained response.”
A Call for Global Solidarity
This initiative represents one of the most significant and urgent humanitarian efforts Myanmar has faced in recent years. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) appeals to donors, partners, and supporters around the globe to act with generosity and urgency.
“While the people of Myanmar show incredible resilience, they cannot navigate this crisis alone,” emphasized Matheou. “With your support, we can not only save lives today but also lay the groundwork for rebuilding safer and stronger communities for a brighter future.”
Significant damage has been reported in the regions of Sagaing, Naypyidaw, Magway, Bago, and Shan State. Critical infrastructure, including the historic Ava Bridge connecting Sagaing and Mandalay, Mandalay University, and various heritage sites, has been damaged or destroyed. Airports in Mandalay and Naypyidaw remain closed due to safety concerns, and telecommunications outages are hampering coordination in several regions.
For more information or to request an interview, please contact: media@ifrc.org
In Kuala Lumpur
Afrhill Rances +60 19 271 3641
In Geneva
Tommaso Della Longa +41 79 708 43 67