The Anglican Alliance brings together partners to support The Church of the Province of Myanmar in responding to the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that caused widespread devastation at the end of March.
On 28th March 2025, Myanmar was struck by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake, resulting in over 3000 deaths and more than 4000 people injured. The epicenter was in the Diocese of Mandalay, encompassing the second largest city in Myanmar, with further severe impact felt across the Diocese of Toungoo. The earthquake has caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure including houses, shops, places of worship including churches, bridges, roads, water supplies, and communication channels, resulting in the displacement of thousands of households and an urgent need for food, water and other essential supplies. The earthquake hit in the context of ongoing political struggles, exacerbating displacement and increasing needs across the country.
Damage caused to buildings
The Anglican Alliance reached out in solidarity and prayer to our friends and partners at The Church of the Province of Myanmar (CPM). In the week following the earthquake, we convened a meeting with the Church and key partners in order to receive updates on the current needs and plan together for how to best support the response. The meeting brought together key partners, including the Anglican Board of Mission, Anglicans in Development, Australia which has taken the lead in an emergency funding appeal to support CPM through raising vital funds.
The Church of the Province of Myanmar have used their disaster response expertise and resources to support affected parishes and their communities. In the days following the earthquake, Bishop David Nyi Nyi Naing from the Diocese of Mandalay and diocesan staff began distributing emergency supplies including water and food packages of rice, curry, mosquito nets and other essentials. A group of young volunteers travelled to the Diocese of Mandalay to help with the provincial and diocesan response, organizing and distributing supplies across the diocese.
Damage caused to buildings
During the initial emergency response phase, CPM have provided healthcare kits, cash transfers, essential food packages and water to thousands of people including the most vulnerable communities and households. Three water purifying kits have been installed in Anglican churches to enable sustainable access to clean drinking water for local communities.
Nicholas Pande, Disaster Response and Resilience Lead for the Anglican Alliance commented, “The Church of the Province of Myanmar has shown strength and resilience in the aftermath of the earthquake. Through their coordinated efforts with the Anglican Alliance and other partners, they have provided essential relief and supplies to those most in need and have now embarked on the journey of rehabilitation and reconstruction. Our ongoing partnership demonstrates the unique position that churches have in mobilising resources and responding effectively to disasters.”
Archdeacon Joseph Yin Oo and volunteers
The group of partners continue to accompany the Church in the next phase of the response focusing on rehabilitation and reconstruction after the damage caused by the earthquake. The CPM disaster committee and director of provincial development have outlined the damages experienced by churches and communities across Myanmar including to church buildings, houses, communication channels, roads and water supplies. The Anglican Alliance, alongside partner agencies are continuing to work together to support the Church in responding to these needs during the next phase.
The earthquake response is part of the Anglican Alliance’s Resilience and Disaster Response work. We are working with provinces and churches across the Anglican Communion to equip and connect them with the knowledge and resources needed to respond effectively when disaster strikes. Find out more about this important work here: https://anglicanalliance.org/what/resilience-disaster-response/
Join us as we continue to pray for the people of Myanmar at the time, for all impacted by the earthquake and for the Church of the Province of Myanmar and all those working tirelessly to respond.
