Give now to support CESVI’s intervention in Myanmar.
Maximum alert for children trapped or in danger: CESVI is concentrating its efforts to ensure immediate assistance for children.
Following the violent earthquake that struck several areas of Myanmar, CESVI teams immediately responded to assess the damage and respond to the urgent needs of the population. The areas of Mandalay and Shan State, already covered by CESVI’s emergency education and nutrition programmes to support people displaced by the civil war, are among the worst affected.
‘Our relief teams have reached the worst affected areas, not far from where we have been working for some time. Unfortunately, one of our teams present in the earthquake zone has been injured, but fortunately the other five colleagues initially thought to be missing have been found safe and sound,’ said Stefano Piziali, General Manager of CESVI. ‘The situation is extremely serious: communications are down, hospitals and public services are among the most damaged infrastructures, and electricity and telephone connections are also compromised. Our priority now is to check whether there are any affected schools and children in critical condition. We are taking immediate action, but with Alliance2015 partners we are already planning an integrated medium- to long-term response.’
From Yangon, a city only marginally affected by the tremors, comes the testimony of Paolo Felice, Head of Mission CESVI in Myanmar: ‘News from the worst-hit areas arrives with great difficulty, but we have confirmation of deceased people admitted to Mandalay hospital, which reports a shortage of medical supplies. Our first goal is to collect direct data on the damage. Myanmar is one of the most fragile countries in Southeast Asia: we fear that the consequences of this earthquake could be particularly severe.’
CESVI has been present in Myanmar for years with programmes to support the most vulnerable sections of the population, particularly in the context of humanitarian emergencies.
At the moment, according to available data, the current situation reports:
- Casualties and injuries: the death toll from the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar has risen to over 1,000 dead and more than 2,400 injured.
- Affected areas: the worst affected regions include Mandalay and Shan State, where CESVI is active with emergency education and nutrition programmes for people displaced by the civil conflict.
- Infrastructure damage: hospitals, schools and other public infrastructure suffered significant damage, further complicating relief operations. Communications are disrupted in many areas due to damage to power lines and telephone bridges.
Note: the situation is evolving; further updates will follow when available.