Emergency Appeal for Children in Myanmar

PUTRAJAYA, 2 APRIL 2023 – UNICEF in Malaysia is appealing for RM1 million in response to the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on 28 March, compounding an already dire humanitarian situation.

UNICEF’s Deputy Representative in Myanmar, Julia Rees said in a Geneva Palais briefing note:

“Entire communities have been flattened. Children and families are sleeping in the open, with no homes to return to. I met children who were in shock after witnessing their homes collapse or the death of family members. Some have been separated from their parents. Others are still unaccounted for.

“The destruction is immense. Homes, schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure—such as bridges and power lines—have been damaged or destroyed, leaving the population without electricity and telecommunications. Entire communities are without water, food, shelter, medicines and money.

“The psychological trauma is immense. For children who were already living through conflict and displacement, this disaster has added yet another layer of fear and loss.

“From our pre-positioned stocks, UNICEF and partners have begun delivering emergency water, sanitation and hygiene kits, medical kits and nutrition supplies. We are working in incredibly challenging conditions—without electricity or running water and with no sanitation - often sleeping outside - like the communities we serve.

“Children with serious injuries need urgent care. Many are deeply traumatized, having lost loved ones or been pulled from the rubble themselves. The longer we wait, the deeper the impact on children’s lives and futures.”

This earthquake comes on top of an already worsening crisis for children in the country with intensifying conflict and a record of 6.5m children in need of humanitarian assistance. Many families already surviving in fragile conditions now face even greater hardship, with limited access to safe water, healthcare, and shelter.

UNICEF teams are on the ground in the hardest-hit areas, working with partners and local responders to assess needs and deliver emergency assistance. UNICEF has delivered pre-positioned WASH supplies for at least 15,000 households, and Inter-Agency Emergency Health Kits covering 1.4 million people, including children under five and pregnant women, for a period of three months. Children are among the most affected—facing heightened risks of injury, trauma, separation from their families, and further disruption to what little stability they had.

UNICEF is calling for urgent funding to scale up the delivery of life-saving support to children and families affected by the earthquake—including clean water, medical care, protection, psychosocial support, and emergency education.

The Myanmar Earthquake Emergency Appeal receives contributions by bank transfer or online donations. To donate:

a) Online Donation:

Donation Site (English) 

b) Bank transfer:

Payee Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND-EMERGENCY

Bank: MALAYAN BANKING BERHAD / Account No: 5143 2960 2449

c) Corporates

For enquiries or corporate donation please contact: mly-partnerships@unicef.org  

NOTE TO EDITORS

Humanitarian Situation in Myanmar

UNICEF has been working in Myanmar since 1950. UNICEF teams are on the ground, working closely with UN agencies, clusters, partners and stakeholders to assess the situation and mobilize an immediate response. Since the earthquake struck, UNICEF has distributed prepositioned supplies to children and families in the earthquake affected areas, this includes:

• Critical WASH supplies for 15,000 households, including hygiene kits, soap, water purification chemicals, water storage containers and water filters, to local WASH partners to distribute in the affected regions.
• Health Kits covering 1.4 million people for a period of three months, and delivery and newborn kits to frontline workers as needed to provide essential medical supplies during the earthquake response.
• Child protection services, including the identification of separated and unaccompanied children, including those who lost their parents and caregivers during the earthquake, care support (medical, psychological, shelter, alternative care), family tracing and reunification.
• Essential Learning Packages, consisting of notebooks and basic stationery items to children who've lost their homes. We're also identifying schools damaged by the quakes and standing by to provide roofing sheets, teaching and learning materials, and mental health and psychosocial support for children and teachers.

Based on the UNICEF Myanmar Earthquake Flash Update No. 2, released on 31 March 2025:

• Over 1,700 people have died, more than 3,400 sustained injuries, and more than 300 people remain unaccounted for nationwide. These numbers are expected to rise further as search and rescue operations continue.
• The earthquake compounds the protracted crisis brought on by armed conflict, natural disasters (large-scale flooding and heatwaves in 2024, among others) and public health emergencies. The earthquake-affected areas in Myanmar, including the Sagaing region, are currently facing extreme heat, with temperatures soaring above 40°C (104°F). Daily highs have reached up to 44°C (111°F), creating severe conditions for both affected communities and responders.
• Mandalay is still experiencing an outbreak of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) following flooding, which may be aggravated by earthquake-induced damage to WASH infrastructure. Earthquake-induced displacement, destruction to WASH infrastructure, and heat-induced water shortages may prompt a renewed increase in AWD and other waterborne diseases.

For more updates on the situation in Myanmar, and UNICEF’s response please visit: https://www.unicef.org/myanmar/