Earthquake in Myanmar – We are there to help
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake caused severe devastation in Myanmar and Thailand on 28 March.
The epicentre was in the centre of Myanmar, near the city of Mandalay, but the tremors were clearly felt as far away as Yangon – our development centre was also affected. Here you can find the latest updates on the situation on the ground …
The good news first
Our local SONNE team reacted quickly and prudently during the quake and quickly evacuated the support centre in Yangon. All the children and staff are unharmed, which makes us incredibly relieved. At first glance, the building does not appear to have suffered any damage either.
Thanks to the quick and prudent reaction of the local team, the children at the SONNE support centre escaped with a scare.
Please donate now to the SONNE emergency fund so that we can help quickly, flexibly and unbureaucratically in dramatic situations – exactly where help is needed most urgently.
Update 03.04.: First aid mission at Inle Lake successfully completed
Just two days after the devastating earthquake, our local SONNE team was able to provide urgently needed aid in the disaster area around Inle Lake – close to the epicentre.
The focus was on distributing food and clean drinking water to affected families who had lost their homes. Around 1,500 people found temporary shelter in a nearby monastery, which has established itself as a central reception camp – this is also where the relief efforts of the few organisations currently working on site are concentrated.
You can find regular updates on the situation in Myanmar and our relief efforts on our YouTube channel.
The first week of the aid mission has been successfully completed. Here are some impressions of the last few days.
Our mission in the focus of the international media
As one of the few international aid organisations registered in Myanmar, SONNE-International was also the point of contact for numerous international media during the mission. Our Austrian project coordinator Jochen Meissner was on hand to answer questions – including for Austrian and German broadcasters, the BBC and many other media organisations – while at the same time being actively involved in the aid mission.
Our colleagues returned to Yangon yesterday, exhausted but determined. They are currently preparing the next aid transport for next week. On Monday, the team will be travelling back to the disaster area to distribute more relief supplies. At the same time, initial talks are being held with local politicians, partner organisations and foundations to coordinate the reconstruction of the destroyed communities.
Special thanks go to all those who have supported us with their donations during this difficult time. The huge wave of solidarity gives our team strength – it helps us to carry on, even when the strain is reaching its limits.
Thank you very much for your great support!
Update 31.03.: Emergency aid started at Inle Lake
We have been continuously active in Myanmar since 2008 – and it is precisely this long-standing presence that enables us to help quickly and effectively in the event of a disaster.
Just a few days after the severe earthquake, the full extent of the destruction is becoming clear – especially in the region around Inle Lake, close to the epicentre. Our local SONNE Social Organisation team was active just a few hours after the quake. After a long journey, they reached one of the worst-affected areas two days after the disaster.
Our dedicated employees are currently providing emergency aid there – directly to those affected:
Our employees are currently working tirelessly to provide help – distributing food, providing clean drinking water and assisting people with direct, unbureaucratic support.
Our courageous team on the ground is supporting the affected families with great commitment and a lot of heart – under the most difficult conditions and despite the ongoing uncertainty in the region.
The SONNE team distributing relief supplies in one of the areas hardest hit by the earthquake.
Update 29 March: The SONNE team is preparing for the aid mission at Inle Lake
In the region around the well-known Inle Lake in the centre of Myanmar, the devastation caused by the earthquake is so great that up to 25% of all houses there have been destroyed – many families have lost their homes and all their belongings overnight. The local SONNE team is currently preparing an aid mission to provide the affected people on the ground with the bare necessities. Departure is planned for the early morning of 30 March, but it is still unclear whether the roads to the affected region will be passable. We are keeping our fingers crossed for our team and wish them all the best for their mission.
Current pictures from the region around Inle Lake. Until yesterday, this region was a tourist attraction, known for its charming floating villages. Now the families who live there have lost everything.
Update 28.03: We are ready to help
The situation in the country is confusing and very serious – the media are reporting hundreds of deaths. The extent of the damage is still unclear in large parts of the country – our team on the ground is currently evaluating the situation and preparing for targeted aid measures.
Many people in Myanmar were not as lucky as the children at the SONNE support centre. The extent of the destruction is enormous – as the first pictures from Myanmar show.
