Attachments
On March 28 2025, at approximately 1:00 pm local time, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar, followed by a series of large aftershocks. The earthquake caused mass devastation to buildings, roads, and various other infrastructure and caused significant injury and loss of life. This earthquake has occurred at a time of extreme violence throughout Myanmar, with the military junta’s State Administrative Council (SAC) having been engaged in ongoing conflicts with various ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) since seizing power in 2021. These ongoing conflicts have incited a major humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, with an estimated 3.5 million internally displaced people (IDP) across the country and many more in need of humanitarian assistance.
This report identifies and assesses communities at anticipated risk of significant unmet humanitarian needs and limited aid access. It emphasises that the earthquake is not an isolated incident but a compounding factor in an already complex and deteriorating humanitarian context. While most affected populations are located within SAC-controlled territory, many identified communities are likely to remain beyond the reach of official aid channels or are situated in contested areas with severe pre- existing vulnerabilities and displacement. This underscores the urgent need to support these underserved populations. Each segment of this report, and corresponding map, draws on the same underlying data and range of hazard exposed locations, however each map is distinguished by prioritising different types of exposure and underlying vulnerabilities, to provide important insights for response and recovery.
Key Findings
- Sagaing - Nearly 79,000 people were exposed to the earthquake’s full force, compounding already catastrophic conditions driven by conflict and displacement. Despite access challenges, it is drawing significant international attention and is expected to be a focus of aid efforts.
- Shwebo - Though less affected by the quake itself, Shwebo faces extreme vulnerabilities and conflict-driven insecurity. Its exclusion from priority zones and severe access risks make timely aid delivery unlikely.
- Pakokku - Although Pakokku experienced limited earthquake impact, high displacement and unmet needs persist in this contested area. Its lower response priority will cause conditions to deteriorate further.
- Monywa - Hosting a large, vulnerable population and likely many displaced people,
Monywa faces delayed aid despite being within reach of some humanitarian actors. Risks and competition with higher-priority areas will hinder response efforts.
Recommendations
Organisations conducting direct aid operations should consider using official international channels to reach communities most affected by the earthquake, many of which are in SAC-controlled areas. To ensure broader and more impartial coverage, this should be complemented by support to trusted local CSOs and NGOs operating in underserved, contested, or resistance-held regions.
For organisations considering aid outside traditional systems, partnering with community-based and border-based groups may help reach conflict-affected and displaced populations at risk of being deprioritised. All efforts should remain context-sensitive, uphold the principles of humanity and impartiality, and follow a ‘do no harm’ approach to avoid exacerbating existing risks