On March 28, barefoot, Mae* ran down the stairs of her apartment building to quickly fetch a delivery. She left her two children upstairs, expecting to be gone only a minute or two. As she stepped outside, a powerful earthquake struck Myanmar. The building collapsed. In an instant, Mae lost her children, her home, and all of her belongings.

Now she stands, sobbing near the heap of debris that was once the place she cuddled her children, cooked their meals, and dreamed of a hopeful future for them. In her grief, one thought keeps repeating: “Where are my shoes? I need my shoes.”

Widespread Impact and Urgent Needs

After initial reports on the magnitude 7.7 earthquake and the 6.4 aftershock that followed, global media attention quickly shifted elsewhere. Yet for people like Mae, the devastation is ongoing.

As of April 5, more than 4,000 people have died, nearly 6,000 have been injured, and over 700 remain missing across the country. These figures are likely underreported. In total, more than 17 million people are estimated to have been affected.

The hardest-hit areas remain without reliable electricity or water. Telecommunications and internet access are severely disrupted, isolating communities from critical services. Five health facilities have been destroyed and 61 partially damaged. Power outages mean remaining facilities must rely on generators, while fuel shortages make even this uncertain.

The need is immense: surgical care, blood transfusion supplies, anesthetics, essential medicines, safe water and sanitation, and support for trauma healing are all urgently required.

Thousands of people have been displaced and are living in makeshift shelters or out in the open. Even where homes still stand, many are too afraid to return indoors, fearing aftershocks. Families are focused on survival, even as the long road to rebuilding lies ahead.

Community Strength in the Midst of Crisis

World Renew is working alongside trusted local partners in Myanmar to bring emergency supplies to those most severely impacted. Helen Catton, World Renew program advisor for Asia, shares:

“The situation is desperate, and rains have begun, making people living outside that much more at risk. This increases the chances of outbreaks such as cholera.”

And yet, amid the despair, there are remarkable examples of resilience and community leadership.

“In one community, the community members themselves decided to borrow the fire truck to pump water,” Helen explains. “They set up two pumps in the river to fill containers for nearby residents. Then they load the fire truck and drive it to more distant communities. What a beautiful example of community-led response.”

The people affected by this disaster are seniors hoping for peace, parents longing for their children’s wellbeing, and children who should be playing and laughing. Instead, many are carrying deep trauma—from the earthquakes themselves and the continuing aftershocks that reopen emotional wounds.

Bringing Hope Through Action

Families are struggling to access food, clean water, and medical care. Providing life-saving essentials in times of crisis not only meets urgent needs but also restores hope. For World Renew and its partners, this work is a tangible expression of the love of Christ for communities in need around the world.

World Renew gives thanks to God for the generosity of supporters whose gifts have already made a meaningful impact:

• 12,926 families have received food and water assistance
• 16,220 people have received emergency cash transfers to cover essential needs such as food, water, and shelter for one month
• 617 families have received personal hygiene kits, cooking supplies, cutlery, and tarpaulins for protection from extreme heat (up to 40°C) and heavy rains

Your support can help reach even more families facing unimaginable loss. Please consider giving generously to World Renew International Disaster Response programs and help share hope with communities rebuilding their lives.

*Name has been changed to protect identity.