On 28^th March, a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar leaving people in need of vital support.

This earthquake is a crisis on top of a crisis, as people across Myanmar already face severe humanitarian challenges. Six months ago, the country experienced devastating flooding impacting half the country. And now, conditions on the ground are challenging. It has been raining heavily – flooding streets and camps – and more downpours are forecast.

There have also been over 400 aftershocks, one of which registered 6.7 on the Richter scale, deepening an already dire situation in Myanmar. Temperatures have reached forty degrees Celsius, and the start of the monsoon season is only weeks away.

The Myanmar Red Cross Society has a longstanding local presence within communities, making them uniquely positioned to respond. They were already working in earthquake-affected areas and, when the earthquake struck, they responded immediately. They activated their emergency operations centre and sent volunteers to the hardest-hit areas: Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyitaw. Their teams provided first aid and pre-hospital care to the injured and focused on saving lives in the worst-affected communities.

Now, the Myanmar Red Cross Society is scaling up their response. Their staff and volunteers have been joined by rapid response teams and specialists from across the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Together, led by the Myanmar Red Cross Society, the Movement is providing shelter, food, safe drinking water, support for young children and pregnant women, hygiene items, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, healthcare through mobile health clinics, and psychosocial support.

Myanmar Red Cross Society volunteers and staff are from the very communities they exist to serve and are also personally impacted by this devastating earthquake. Despite these unimaginable difficulties, and with the support of the British Red Cross’s Myanmar Earthquake Appeal and partners like Benefact Trust, they can continue to respond around the clock to reach people with vital support.

Alix Wooding, Senior Head of Partnerships and Philanthropy at the British Red Cross, said: “We are deeply grateful to Benefact Trust for their £150,000 donation to our Myanmar Earthquake Appeal. Our ongoing partnership has seen Benefact Trust jump into action time and time again to support the British Red Cross and our wider Movement’s efforts to provide urgent and vital help when crisis hits.

“In doing so, Benefact Trust has played an instrumental role in those efforts, enabling us to leverage our scale, presence, and expertise to be here for humanity. And this latest grant is no exception. Together, Benefact Trust, the British Red Cross, and the Movement will continue to help those who need it most in Myanmar."

Helen Gray, Benefact Trust Director, said: “The earthquake in Myanmar has been utterly catastrophic and will continue to devastate lives long beyond the initial impact. Myanmar is a country already facing huge humanitarian challenges and the people need our support now more than ever.

“We have a long-standing partnership with British Red Cross and know how quickly and effectively their teams work – providing vital aid and support where it’s needed most. We wanted to get funding to them as quickly as possible to help save lives.” 

Find out more about the British Red Cross’s Myanmar Earthquake Appeal.

Photo Credits: Myanmar Red Cross Society