From Mandalay to Yangon: What I Witnessed Changed Me Forever

By Dr Kyi Minn, National Director, World Vision International Myanmar

When the earthquake struck, the imagery flashing on social media painted the grim picture of the utter devastation in Central Myanmar. But nothing could prepare me for what I saw when I rushed to Mandalay to meet our staff and the communities part of our programme. I had never seen devastation on this scale. In Mandalay city and nearby towns, the destruction was overwhelming—roads were ripped apart, buildings lay in ruins, and countless families, including children, were sleeping under the open sky, exposed to the elements. What I saw was truly heartbreaking and it shook me to the core. I met mothers cradling their babies under the hot sun, in the hottest month of the year, trying to shield them without access to clean water or a safe place to stay. I saw children sitting silently in long queues, waiting for a simple meal—many of them hadn’t eaten all day. Their eyes reflected exhaustion and fear.

Even before the earthquakes, families struggled to access clean water during the dry season. Now, with water sources damaged or contaminated, the situation has worsened dramatically. What concerned me was the dangerously high risk of waterborne diseases like diarrhea, especially for young children and pregnant women.

Food insecurity, which was already affecting over 15 million people before the quake, is now deepening. Families who were barely getting by now have nothing. Many people are sleeping on the streets, too afraid to return to their homes due to the ongoing threat of aftershocks. I remember one young girl who told me she hadn’t slept properly since the earthquake - every sound made her jump. What these families need is not just shelter, but safety, dignity, and a return to normalcy.

Children and women are among the most vulnerable in times like this, and this disaster has only intensified the challenges they face. We must act urgently to protect them and help them heal—not just physically, but emotionally.

What gave me a glimmer of hope was that even before the earthquakes struck, we already present in Mandalay. We were one of the organisations on the ground, working closely with local partners. So when the disaster hit, we were able to get into action very quickly and conduct a rapid needs assessment to understand the most urgent needs. The needs of the affected communities were the foundation of our emergency response, focusing on the hardest-hit areas: Amarapura, Aungmyetharzan, Chanayethazan, Chanmyatharzi, Kyaukse, Mahaaungmye, Pyigyidagun, Singaing, Patheingyi, and Tada-U.

We aim to reach at least 500,000 people, including over 170,000 children, with life-saving assistance and recovery services, which include:

• Clean Water and Hygiene (WASH): distributing safe drinking water and water purification sachets to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases like diarrhea, which are especially dangerous for children;
   
• Emergency Food Assistance: providing essential food items such as rice, cooking oil, chickpeas, and salt to meet immediate nutritional needs, prioritizing children and women at risk;
   
• Child Protection: providing protection kits and establishing child-friendly spaces, where children can play, rest, and begin to feel safe again. These spaces help restore a sense of routine and emotional stability;
   
• Hygiene, Household Supplies, and Shelter (Non-Food Items): giving hygiene kits, warm blankets, kitchen sets, and water buckets—basic items to help displaced families get through each day with dignity
   

We know that recovery will take time—and this is only the beginning. Many children have lost parents, seen their homes collapse, or witnessed trauma no child should ever endure. But to help them begin the journey toward healing, we plan to scale up psychosocial support, offering safe spaces and emotional care that can help restore a sense of normalcy.

Even before the disaster, an estimated 20 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance. The earthquake has pushed people dealing with climate change, conflict and economic hardship deeper into crisis, further eroding their resilience.

Despite all these challenges, we see the quiet strength of the Myanmar people as they support one another. Neighbors sharing what little they have with those affected, and local volunteers stepping in to help those most impacted.

As we gain greater access to affected communities, we will continue to assess the evolving needs and expand our response accordingly. Special attention is being given to people with disabilities, who face even greater risks due to damaged infrastructure and limited access to essential health and sanitation services.

Looking to the future, World Vision is committed to supporting livelihood recovery through our microfinance partner, VisionFund. By helping families restart small businesses and income-generating activities, we aim to reduce long-term dependence on aid and rebuild community resilience.

Also, through our shelter assistance, we hope to focus on providing safe, temporary housing for displaced families—giving them a secure place to rest and begin the process of rebuilding their lives.

This disaster has taken so much, but together, with the support of all actors, including the international community, we can help restore the hope of children and their families. The path ahead will be long, but with swift action, funding, and partnerships, we can help children and their families rebuild their lives and recovery.

Find out more about our Myanmar Earthquake Response. Provide lifesaving aid to children who need it the most right now. Save Lives Now.