Myanmar YMCA Responds to Mandalay Earthquake with Urgent Emergency Relief

Myanmar YMCA Responds to Mandalay Earthquake with Urgent Emergency Relief
Date: July 2025
From: The National Council of YMCAs of Myanmar

By: Alex Kaung Myat Htoo, Humanitarian Programme Manager, YMCA of Myanmar

Mandalay, Sagaing & Naypyitaw, Myanmar — In the early hours of March 28, 2025, a powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck central Myanmar, with the epicentre located near the cities of Mandalay and Sagaing regions. The disaster caused extensive structural damage, displaced thousands of residents, and instilled widespread fear across the affected regions.

In immediate response to the crisis, the National Council of YMCAs of Myanmar, in partnership with Danish Church Aid (DCA) and with the coordination of Mandalay YMCA on the ground, launched a comprehensive emergency relief operation. The response focused on urgent humanitarian needs, including the distribution of essential relief items, protection services, and psychosocial support to affected communities in Mandalay, Sagaing and surrounding areas. To date, Myanmar YMCA has reached hundreds of individuals with life-saving aid. A total of 567 people has received multipurpose cash assistance, while 433 individuals have benefitted from hygiene kits distributed by field teams, local civil society organizations, and dedicated community volunteers.

In addition to cash and hygiene assistance, Myanmar YMCA has delivered critical food and non-food items to earthquake victims and their families in Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyitaw. These included rice, cooking oil, salt, dried fish, eggs, and instant noodles. Non-food relief supplies such as emergency dead-body bags, tents, ground sheets, mosquito nets, blankets, clothing, kitchen utensils, and bedding were also distributed to meet immediate shelter and household needs. Through this food assistance, a total of 5,600 earthquake victims received support from the local YMCAs.

Recognizing the importance of clean water access, water purifier machines were provided to affected communities and installed at YMCA relief centers to ensure safe drinking water. In a collaborative effort, Myanmar YMCA partnered with the Myanmar Scout Association to extend humanitarian assistance to affected villages near Inle Lake, Nyaungshwe Township in Shan State, further expanding the reach of emergency relief.

As part of its holistic support strategy, Myanmar YMCA is also offering counseling and psychosocial services to individuals traumatized by the disaster. The organization emphasizes the importance of mental health support during recovery from such catastrophic events.

However, the earthquake did not spare YMCA infrastructure. Buildings belonging to Mandalay YMCA and Naypyitaw YMCA sustained damages and are currently in need of urgent renovation to continue serving their respective communities.

Myanmar YMCA extends heartfelt gratitude to its international partners and supporters for their solidarity and generosity during this critical time. Special thanks go to World YMCA, the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, Y USA, Taichung YMCA, Tokyo YMCA, Danish Church Aid (DCA) & Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), the National Council of YMCAs of Hong Kong, National Council of YMCA of the Philippines,  Y’s Men’s Club of Chiang Mai, Y’s Men’s Club of Bangkok, Y’s Men’s Club of Singapore, Rev. Samuel Stephen, Tekatho Foundation-UK, North Point Alliance Church, LISAC, Hong Kong, World Concerns Myanmar, UNICEF and GGWJ for their compassionate support toward the people of Myanmar.

As the nation continues to recover from the disaster, Myanmar YMCA remains committed to serving those affected and working collaboratively with partners to rebuild communities and restore hope.