Situation Overview
Just over two weeks after the devastating earthquakes struck central Myanmar, the humanitarian response continues to ramp up with emergency assistance and ongoing needs assessments. The earthquakes have pushed 2 million people into critical need of assistance and protection. This is in addition to the 19.9 million people who were already estimated to be in need of assistance before the disaster. According to the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre), 3,600 people have died, 4,800 have been injured, and 141 remain missing nationwide. Initial rapid needs assessments have been completed in 40 townships across 7 states and regions, including Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory. Among the more than 857,000 people assessed in both urban and rural areas, urgent needs include cash assistance, emergency shelter, food, safe drinking water and water sources for domestic use, healthcare, and sanitation support. At the time of data gathering, 44 percent of those assessed had not yet received any form of assistance. Access to essential services has been decimated. People in the hardest-hit areas face serious challenges in accessing electricity or clean water, while phone and internet services remain severely disrupted due to the damage. The state-run media reported that more than 6,730 telecommunications stations across the country were damaged by the earthquakes.
