A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar at 1:20 PM local time, causing severe damage to infrastructure and raising fears of a significant human toll. Médecins du Monde teams on the ground are mobilizing to assist the affected population.
This disaster comes as the country is already facing a multidimensional crisis—political, economic, social, health, and humanitarian.
“The immediate priority is to meet essential needs: medical care, water, food, and shelter. Our teams in Myanmar report that hospitals are overwhelmed. Starting tomorrow, we will send reinforcements to Mandalay—near the earthquake’s epicenter—to assess needs and provide emergency assistance as quickly as possible. We are also deeply concerned about access difficulties, not only due to the earthquake’s impact but also because of the ongoing armed conflict in the country,” warns Helena Ranchal, Director of International Operations at Médecins du Monde France.
Médecins du Monde has been present in Myanmar since 2000. All 250 staff members in the country are safe and are preparing to deliver an appropriate response as soon as possible to support the affected population.
As part of its work in Myanmar, Médecins du Monde strives to promote equitable access to healthcare and rights for all. Our harm reduction programs provide prevention, treatment, and support services for vulnerable groups, including sex workers and men who have sex with men in Yangon, as well as people who inject drugs in Kachin.
Main photo: © Sai Aung MAIN – AFP