In the Southeast Asian multi-ethnic state of Myanmar, armed conflicts between state security forces and various ethnic groups have been ongoing for more than 70 years. With its natural resources and central location in Southeast Asia, the country has great development potential. Nevertheless, Myanmar still ranks 149th out of 190 countries on the Human Development Index, which takes into account income, life expectancy and educational opportunities (as of 2022).
Conflict, lack of investment in infrastructure and recurring natural disasters have left their mark on the country. In addition to extreme weather conditions, climate change is hitting Myanmar particularly hard. In 2019, for the seventh year in a row, the country ranked second among the countries that have been most affected by the impacts of global warming worldwide over the past 20 years (Global Climate Risk Index by Germanwatch). Nevertheless, the country has so far been ill-prepared for the challenges of climate change. Tropical storms, storm surges and tsunamis repeatedly hit the coastal regions. Large parts of the country are threatened by earthquakes, floods, landslides and droughts.
A severe earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck Myanmar and Thailand on March 28, 2025. Countless people have lost all their belongings, their homes and their loved ones. They urgently need support.
Malteser International has been supporting people in need in Myanmar and Thailand for several decades. We are working at full speed with our teams and partner organizations on the ground to provide rapid emergency relief. Among other things, we provide 250,000 euros in emergency aid for the affected areas.
Every bit of help counts now. Your donation is urgently needed.
Malteser International first began working in Myanmar in 1996, implementing small-scale relief projects with local partners, and it has been active with its own staff in the country since 2001. Today, Malteser International employs more than 180 national staff in Shan state and Yangon, where our work aims at ensuring communities have access to primary health care services. We also offer comprehensive water, hygiene and sanitation services (WASH) and disaster risk reduction/climate change adaptation solutions, and provide relief after disasters. We strive to enable and empower the most vulnerable communities in marginalized areas through a participatory and sustainable approach.
We have been committed to strengthening local actors and thus increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian aid. Together with strong partners, we support eight countries and 40 local partner organizations in a joint localization program (ToGETHER!), fostering capacity building in emergency aid and crisis prevention, coordination and finances, and representation of their interests. Malteser International has the operational lead in two of the participating countries: Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Cologne/Yangon. An increasing number of people are falling ill in Myanmar's earthquake-affected areas due to contaminated water. Water and sanitation infrastructure has been destroyed in numerous communities. Many people have been left homeless or without safe access to drinking water. As a consequence, illnesses such as watery diarrhea and other life-threatening diseases are emerging.
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Cologne/Yangon. Malteser International and its local partners will provide medical aid, psychosocial support, clean water and sanitation to the people in the Mandalay region. Two days after the severe earthquake in Myanmar, the full extent of the damage is still unknown. In addition to providing immediate assistance, we are also working to assess further needs.
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Cologne/Yangon. A Malteser International emergency relief team will travel towards Yangon, Myanmar, on Saturday evening to support local colleagues in their initial emergency relief efforts for people in the affected areas. The first relief measures have already been launched: "Our medical teams, water, sanitation, and hygiene specialists, along with trained volunteers, are on the ground assessing needs and coordinating emergency assistance. Medicines and medical supplies are urgently needed," says Oliver Hochedez, Head of the Emergency Relief Department at Malteser International.
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Cologne/Yangon/Mae Sariang. A severe earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale has struck Myanmar and Thailand today. The quake occurred at 12:50 p.m. local time at a depth of 10 kilometers close to the city of Sagaing in central Myanmar. Tremors were also felt in Thailand more than 1,000 kilometers away. Official information on the number of deaths is not yet available from the affected countries. Malteser International has been supporting people in Thailand and Myanmar for several decades. The organization will immediately provide emergency relief of 250,000 euros for the affected areas to provide rapid assistance. ( Photo: Chanakarn Laosarakham/Gettyimage)
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Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aspires to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” Through our numerous projects worldwide, Malteser International is making every effort to help reach these objectives.
In Myanmar, for instance, we are building health networks in the most remote areas of the country to improve healthcare, especially for pregnant women, mothers, and children.
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Being a mother comes with a spectrum of emotions. There is mostly the pure joy of watching ones child grow, but there are also a number of unpleasant moments, like watching one's child falling sick. Mi Tueh thought she had failed as a mother until she learned about tuberculosis (TB). Find out how Malteser International is helping families affected by the disease.
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Isabel Brenn
Email: isabel.brenn(at)malteser-international.org
Stefanie Heil
Email: stefanie.heil(at)malteser-international.org
info@malteser-international.org
Malteser Hilfsdienst e.V.
Reference:
Malteser International
Account number: 1201200012
IBAN:
DE10 3706 0120 1201 2000 12
S.W.I.F.T./BIC: GENODED1PA7
(Pax Bank Cologne)
