‘Young Children Screamed in Fear’: Save the Children Responds in Myanmar with Lifesaving Aid in Earthquake-Affected Areas

YANGON/BANGKOK, (March 30, 2025) – Save the Children and its partners are providing lifesaving aid in earthquake-affected areas in Myanmar with an immediate need for water, food and health care services for children and their families. 

Hospitals and clinics are reportedly overwhelmed with thousands of injured people, and families have been seeking shelter in monasteries, football fields and other open spaces, due to fear of aftershocks. Save the Children is collaborating with partners to respond to the urgent needs of children and families in some of the affected areas.  Damaged roads and severed phone lines, coupled with the ongoing threat of aftershocks, are hindering the relief efforts of aid agencies.  

Maung Maung Khin*, 48, a community member in Shan and the father of two young children, told Save the Children that about 200 buildings in his township were destroyed. He added that the area was already facing an acute water shortage, with many relying on stored rainwater. At least 1,200 houses and three schools have been severely damaged or destroyed in Shan State. ^[1]

Maung Maung Khin* said:  

“Children and the elderly experienced severe dizziness and fainting. Some were hospitalized. The earthquake was incredibly strong, and we were all in shock. Young children cried and screamed in fear. Many people, especially in hilly areas, have not dared to return home due to fear of aftershocks.  

“The immediate need for local people in Shan State is urgent medical assistance, especially for shocked children and the elderly. Mental health and psychosocial support are also crucial during this critical time—you can imagine how frightened children and older people must be feeling.  

“With many houses destroyed, food and water are among the most urgent needs for the affected children and families. Additionally, as many homes and structures in the worst-hit parts of town have been destroyed, there is a great need for temporary shelters or safe places for displaced families.”   

At least 1,600 people lost their lives in the 7.7 magnitude earthquake which struck Myanmar on March 28th, according to reports, which destroyed buildings and cut major roads and electricity.  

After the earthquake, a state of emergency was declared in the six most impacted regions - Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, Bago, Shan, and Naypyidaw. These regions are home to more than 28 million people – about half of Myanmar’s population - including an estimated 6.7 million children ^[2].  

In neighboring Thailand, many schools and other buildings are still unsafe to use after the earthquake, potentially impacting the education of thousands of children.  28,000 displaced children live on the Thai-Myanmar border. Save the Children in Thailand is currently working with partners to assess the damage and the needs of children, which are likely to include psychosocial support.  

Jeremy Stoner, Acting Asia Regional Director, Save the Children said:  

“Save the Children staff in Myanmar and our local partners work and live in many impacted communities. They are responding to the urgent, lifesaving needs of children and their families.  

“With so many lives lost, thousands injured, and homes destroyed, and access to some affected areas challenging, there is an immediate need for food, clean water, health care, shelter, hygiene kits, cash and child protection services. Many families took nothing with them when they fled their homes.   

“Although the full extent of the disaster is still being monitored, children are among the most vulnerable in crises and need support. 

“Lifesaving aid is the urgent priority, but providing mental health support to survivors, especially children, is also crucial. 

“Children could potentially face heightened risks due to the loss of parents and caregivers, and the destruction of schools and familiar places, all of which can have long-term mental health effects on their well-being.”  

Save the Children has been working in Myanmar since 1995, providing lifesaving healthcare, food and nutrition, education and child protection programs.  

Save the Children has worked in Thailand since 1979. Save the Children Thailand works to support children who are most impacted by discrimination and inequality through programs on education, child protection, livelihood and child rights governance. 

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Notes for Editors:  

*Denotes name changed to protect identity 

[1] https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/myanmar-earthquake-flash-update-1-29-march-2025 

[2] Myanmar has a child population of 24% (UNICEF 2023) and a total population of 54 million (https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=MM).  The six impacted regions in Myanmar - Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, Bago, Shan and Naypyidaw - are home to over 28,400,000 people, based on 2024 Population Census Results  https://dop.gov.mm/en 

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