Yangon, Myanmar– On 28 March 2025, at approximately 12:50, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Sagaing, Mandalay, Naypitaw, and Shan state. The epicenter was recorded at Sagaing with a depth of 10km. The tremor was felt across Thailand, Bangladesh, China, and Laos, causing widespread damage to infrastructure and buildings.
According to Thai Meteorological Department’s Earthquake Observation Division, since the initial earthquake, over 70 aftershocks have been recorded in the past 24 hours, with few exceeding 5.0 on the Richter Scale (RS). The strongest aftershocks have further weakened damaged buildings, increasing the risk of collapses and complicating rescue efforts. Residents have reported continued fear and difficulty accessing safe shelter due to the current political situation.
According to the latest official announcement by SAC’s National Disaster Management the earthquake has resulted in more than 2056 deaths, 3,900 injured and at least 270 missing. According to SAC’s chairman, Min Aung Hlaing, the number of casualties is expected to rise further. Authorities have deployed search and rescue teams, and emergency response efforts are ongoing. However, there are controversial reports from local media claiming that Sagaing is 80% destroyed, with nearly 50 confirmed deaths. The number of casualties could be in the hundreds, and rescue efforts are halted due to the collapse of the fire department. [Khit Thit Media] On the morning of March 29, Min Aung Hlaing visited Mandalay Region, surveying the earthquake damage by helicopter.
MSF in Myanmar
MSF has been working in Myanmar since 1992, with focus on providing HIV and TB care, emergency responses to national disasters and conflict, as well as support to the persecuted Rohingya population in Rakhine. We pioneered HIV treatment in Myanmar and steadily grew a large patient cohort – by 2015 becoming the largest provider of antiretrovirals in the country, with over 35,000 patients on antiretroviral treatment. After 2015, MSF began working with the Ministry of Health to transfer patients to the decentralised National AIDS Programme, so people could receive care closer to home.
Due to prohibitions on the delivery of medical humanitarian assistance and escalating conflict, MSF has been forced to close and indefinitely suspend clinics in Rakhine, and some in Kachin and northern Shan. MSF’s medical humanitarian care is now fragmented across the country and focused on where we are still able to get people and supplies to our clinics. As the frontlines shift, so too does our ability to access patients and provide care.
We remain flexible and responsive, providing emergency responses wherever possible.
At present, MSF is providing assistance in the following regions:
- Kachin: MSF provides care for sexual and gender-based violence survivors, HIV and TB, and primary healthcare in clinics across the state, as well as support to the National AIDs and TB programmes.
- Northern Shan: Muse is the only remaining MSF clinic operating in northern Shan, and provides family planning, treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, primary healthcare for children under five, antenatal care, support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, and assistance to the National TB and AIDs programmes.
- Rakhine: MSF’s clinics have been suspended and heavily restricted across the state. We currently run flexible small-scale activities where possible, for example supporting emergency referrals to secondary hospitals, distribution of emergency supplies, malnutrition screening in children and supplementary feeding.
- Yangon: MSF continues to support Aung San TB Hospital and the National TB Reference Laboratory and provides infection, prevention and control and psychosocial support for TB patients in primary health clinics across Yangon. MSF also expanded existing primary healthcare services to include Hepatitis C treatment and screening and vaccination for Hepatitis B.
- Tanintharyi: MSF provides HIV care, and primary health care services including for patients living with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and other chronic diseases. This also includes a sexual and reproductive health component, including antenatal and postnatal consultations, and family planning.
MSF as an emergency response organisation in Myanmar
2008 – In response to Cyclone Nargis, MSF launched a rapid emergency operation, providing medical care to over 550,000 people within 48 hours.
2010 – Following Typhoon Giri, MSF conducted 17,000 medical consultations through mobile and fixed clinics, while also distributing essential food and construction kits.
2021 – MSF opened three COVID-19 treatment centers in Yangon, Myitkyina, and Hpakant for moderate to severe cases, along with:
- A COVID-19 hotline for Muse, Lashio, and Dawei regions.
- Medical supply donations, including to Lashio prison.
- Training for healthcare workers on infection prevention and control.
2022 – MSF supported people displaced by violence in Kachin and Shan states with medical assistance and relief items, including hygiene and cooking kits.
2023 – In response to Cyclone Mocha’s impact in Rakhine State, MSF provided emergency medical care and carried out water and sanitation work, repairing latrines, distributing hygiene items, and supplying clean water.
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- MSF in Myanmar
