Rapid Response Fund

Myanmar Earthquake Response

Myanmar (Burma) is a beautiful country which has been hit by yet another tragedy. This time it’s a devastating earthquake measuring 7.7 magnitude on the Richter Scale which hit the country on Friday the 28th of March 2025. The epicentre of this natural tragedy was the city of Sagaing in central Myanmar, with tremors felt in Thailand, China, and India. Mandalay, the second largest city has been severely impacted.

USPG will be supporting a response led by our partner the Church of the Province of Myanmar (CPM) through our Rapid Response Fund.

In an appeal letter, The Most Revd Stephen Than Myint Oo, Archbishop of Myanmar and Bishop of Yangon wrote: « Among the affected regions, two dioceses of the Church of the Province of Myanmar – the Diocese of Mandalay and the Diocese of Taungoo – have suffered extensive damage. »

He continued, « According to current reports, approximately 36 Anglican church buildings, including one cathedral, along with eight church halls, have been destroyed. Additionally, around 350 member families have lost their homes, leaving approximately 1,800 individuals in urgent need of assistance. »

These numbers are expected to rise.

The earthquake has exacerbated the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, which is facing a civil war as a result of a military led a coup which started in February 2021. More than 3 million people are displaced and according to the United Nations, a third of the population need humanitarian assistance. Now this disaster has hit people who were already struggling to survive.

However, the CPM hasn’t lost hope and is appealing to partners to accompany the church as it responds to the disaster. According to Archbishop Stephen, “Myanmar, including the CPM, is enduring immense hardships due to multiple challenges. However, as the saying goes, “Every cloud has a silver lining.”

In this spirit, we humbly and earnestly appeal to you for your support in aiding CPM’s relief and rehabilitation efforts for the victims of this devastating earthquake. Your contribution can serve as a beacon of hope and compassion for those in desperate need.