We Are Responding to
the Earthquake in Myanmar

International Medical Corps is responding to this crisis, working closely with regional authorities, the World Health Organization and partners to coordinate relief efforts. Our response team is on the ground meeting with partners and assessing needs, and preparing to deploy an Emergency Medical Team (EMT) to the area to provide medical and mental health care to people affected by the disaster. Myanmar’s State Administration Council has declared a state of emergency in six affected states and regions, and has called for international assistance.

Before the earthquake, Myanmar was experiencing a humanitarian crisis due to years of conflict. The country currently has the fifth-highest number of people in need of humanitarian assistance globally, with approximately 20 million people—one-third of the population—in need, and some 15 million people projected to face acute food insecurity during 2025. The earthquake has further exacerbated this crisis, leaving millions without access to essential health, protection, nutrition, and water, sanitation and hygiene services. Sagaing City, near the epicentre of the quake, is home to 1.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs)—one-third of all IDPs in Myanmar.

Infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed throughout the region—including healthcare facilities, which have been overwhelmed with demand from people injured in the quake. Multiple hospitals have been evacuated due to damage and risk of collapse, leading to a shortage of beds for the injured.

There also is a shortage of medical personnel to manage the surge of casualties and ongoing health concerns. People are camping out in the open, afraid to return to their homes. More than half of latrines and other sanitation facilities in the region have been destroyed, water systems have been damaged, and extreme heat and heavy rains are raising the risk of cholera, malaria, dengue, skin diseases and other waterborne illnesses. Extensive damage to critical infrastructure—including airports, roads and communications systems—have so far hindered humanitarian efforts, as have shortages of medical supplies.

Our specialised EMT would include orthopaedic and trauma surgeons, an anaesthesiologist, an operating theatre nurse and emergency physicians, and would provide emergency and trauma care services at a fixed site, or through mobile services. As the only NGO classified by the WHO as a Type 1 EMT, both Fixed and Mobile, we are uniquely positioned to help.

As always, we are working closely with international, regional and local partners to increase healthcare surge capacity and coordinate humanitarian aid over the course of our response.

We will report more on our activities as the situation develops. Please check this page frequently for updates.