UN Mobilizes Rapid Response to Devastating Earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand
A powerful earthquake has struck Myanmar, causing severe damage and loss of life, with hundreds reportedly dead and many more affected. The tremor, which was felt across the region—including Thailand, China, and India—has prompted a swift response from the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies.
The UN’s Emergency Relief Coordinator reported through social media that UN teams are being bolstered by global expertise to speed up emergency support efforts in the affected areas.
According to local sources in Myanmar’s Mandalay city—near the quake’s epicenter—hundreds have perished. In neighboring Thailand, more than 80 construction workers are missing, as confirmed by the Thai Deputy Prime Minister. Search and rescue operations are currently ongoing.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his condolences to the victims and pledged the UN’s full support. In response to the disaster, the UN’s humanitarian office, OCHA, led by Martin Griffiths, has released an initial $5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to provide lifesaving assistance.
Widespread Destruction Reported
The UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Myanmar confirmed “significant damage” across Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Bago, Magway, Sagaing, Shan, and potentially other areas. A statement from the office noted:
“Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this event… We are gathering information about the people impacted, infrastructure damage, and immediate humanitarian needs to guide a response and will share more updates as information becomes available.”
Sheela Matthew of the World Food Programme (WFP) warned that the disaster has hit Myanmar at a time of already dire humanitarian conditions. “With one in four people already experiencing acute food insecurity, Myanmar just can’t afford another disaster,” she said. The WFP has prepositioned stocks of ready-to-eat food in warehouses and is prepared to distribute them as needed.
Marie Manrique, Programme Coordinator for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Myanmar, spoke from Yangon to UN journalists in Geneva. She noted that the quake’s tremors were felt as far as Thailand, India, and China. In addition to damage to buildings and infrastructure, there are growing concerns about possible dam breaches. Parts of Myanmar are currently experiencing power outages and communication blackouts.
The Myanmar Red Cross Society has launched an emergency operation to support affected populations and conduct further assessments.
A Crisis Within a Crisis
Myanmar, already reeling from a civil war following a military coup over four years ago, faces worsening humanitarian challenges. Approximately 20 million people—one-third of the country’s population—are expected to require aid in 2025. Of these, 15 million are projected to face acute food shortages.
Escalating conflict across the country has already displaced more than 3.5 million people internally, with many living in makeshift shelters in the hardest-hit central and northwestern regions—areas now also devastated by the earthquake.
WHO and UNHCR Step Up
Dr. Margaret Harris of the World Health Organization (WHO) said the agency is coordinating relief operations with its country offices in Myanmar and Thailand. WHO has activated its logistics hub in Dubai to dispatch trauma supplies and has initiated a rapid health needs assessment.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), represented by Babar Baloch, highlighted that the earthquake’s impact would further strain the lives of around 1.6 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) already living in the most affected areas.
Aerial footage and images from Mandalay show people gathered near collapsed buildings, as emergency crews search for survivors amid the rubble of a 7.7 magnitude earthquake.
This is a developing story. More updates will follow as new information becomes available.
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