[Emergency Appeal] Myanmar Was Struck By 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake, Plan International Calling for Humanitarian Aid Donations

On the afternoon of 28 March, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, with tremors felt in neighbouring countries including Thailand, India, Laos, Bangladesh, and mainland China. In response, the Myanmar government declared a state of emergency in six provinces. As of 22 April, the earthquake has tragically claimed the lives of over 3,700 people and left 5,100 injured.

The country has been badly hit by internal conflicts since 2021 and millions of people have been trapped in extreme poverty, according to the UN report, the conflict has even caused 3.5 million people displaced.

The conflict, coupled with this earthquake, has pushed the children into a worsening situation and they have to face the outbreak of infectious diseases. The children and their families are in urgent need of food, water, and hygiene items to maintain good health. Plan International’s response team has kickstarted the emergency work and is distributing food, water, and hygiene kits to help the affected overcome the dire situations.

The earthquake caused many houses to collapse, residents lost their homes and were forced to dig through the rubbles to get essential supplies for survival.

Displaced families affected by the disaster sit by the roadside waiting for relief supplies, facing poor sanitary conditions.

The earthquake has caused widespread devastation. As of 8 April, 69 aftershocks have been recorded, compounding the impact of the initial seismic event. The ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Centre (AHA Centre) estimates that 37.8 million people (8.21 million households) have been affected, with approximately 9.37 million considered particularly vulnerable.

Children are particularly at risk, facing heightened risks. We are especially concerned for their health and safety as girls are at increased risk of sexual violence, child marriage, and human trafficking. We urgently appeal for your support to help these children and families overcome these immense challenges.

Under such a grave situation, Plan International has responded swiftly to this crisis by launching emergency humanitarian assistance efforts in Myanmar. Building on our 16 years working within the country, our local team is able to carry out effective rescue operations and deliver clean drinking water, food, hygiene kits, child protection and sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services to the communities in Mandalay and Sagaing, the worst-hit areas of Myanmar. To date, our efforts in Mandalay and Sagaing have benefited over 22,600 individuals.

Our team has been distributing emergency relief supplies such as food, clean drinking water and hygiene kits to victims, providing timely assistance to the affected children and families and alleviating their urgent needs.

Additionally, many children lost their homes and been displaced, facing unimaginable hardship. To support these children, Plan International has established child-friendly spaces at displaced sites in Mandalay, offering a safe and supportive environment where they can rest, play, and learn.

In addition to setting up child-friendly spaces, Plan International is providing psychological counselling services, helping the affected children overcome the trauma caused by the earthquake. To date, 145 children have benefited from this support.

The situation in Myanmar remains urgent and critical. Countless children and families are struggling to survive, your immediate support is critical in helping save more lives, we hope you can lend an immediate helping hand to the affected.

Details of the project are as follows:

• Donate HK$500: Provide 1-week food baskets for 1 household
• Donate HK$1,000: Provide 1-week food baskets for 2 households
• Donate HK$3,000: Provide 1-week food baskets and 3 safe water kits (including water purifying tablets, Oral Rehydration Salt, buckets and cups) for 3 households
• Donate HK$5,000: Provide 1-week food baskets, 4 safe water kits (including water purifying tablets, Oral Rehydration Salt, buckets and cups) and 4 personal hygiene kits (including soaps, toothpaste, towel, hairbrush and hand sanitiser) for 4 households

One-Off Donation Just HK$2 Daily, Support our works in Myanmar

Other Donation Methods

1. Bank Transfer*：

Please make a direct deposit into HSBC account #640-068318-838

2. Crossed Cheque *：

Please make a cheque payable to “Plan International Hong Kong Limited”

3. Cash Donation via Circle K or VanGO*
   Please visit any Circle K or VanGO in Hong Kong and present the barcode to make a cash donation*. (Each transaction cannot exceed HK$5,000.)

4. PayMe Donation*：Please scan the QR code below to donate
   Please enter your information (English name, telephone number and email address) and state “25UNID001 – MMEA” in PayMe message box.

5. AlipayHK ：
   Please scan the QR code below to donate.

*(Except AlipayHK) Please send the original bank receipt/ crossed cheque/ Circle K or VanGO original receipt/ a screenshot of the mobile donation transaction details together with your name, telephone number and email address to Plan International Hong Kong by mail or email. Please mark “25UNID001 – MMEA”. (Email: [email protected], Address: 21/F, 9 Chong Yip Street, Kwun Tong, Hong Kong)

 

Disclaimer: Plan International is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations. Please note that any donations received that exceed what is required to support this emergency will be directed to other areas with the greatest humanitarian needs, helping more children facing global crises and conflicts.