The European Union, United States, Norway, and the United Kingdom have announced emergency assistance for Myanmar people affected by the Sagaing earthquake that struck on March 28. The European Union has decided to provide initial emergency aid of 2.5 million euros, which will help meet the urgent needs of the most vulnerable people in Myanmar and save lives. The EU is also assessing ground conditions and requirements for additional assistance, with this allocation bringing their total humanitarian aid for Myanmar in 2025 to 35 million euros.
The United States will provide up to $2 million in emergency response aid, and USAID’s emergency response team will arrive in Myanmar to assess urgent needs including emergency shelter, food, medicine, and water access in earthquake-affected areas. Norway has also noted that even before the earthquake, 20 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance, and this natural disaster has further exacerbated the existing humanitarian crisis. The UK government has pledged £10 million in aid, which will be used to enhance assistance in the worst-affected areas, providing food, water, medicine, and shelter materials.
International organizations have called for adherence to humanitarian principles and unrestricted access to affected areas. The aid comes at a crucial time as the earthquake has impacted regions already suffering from armed conflict, with nearly 1.5 million internally displaced persons. The international community emphasizes the importance of rapid humanitarian access to the areas most in need, with aid organizations working through local partners who are on the front lines. There are concerns about humanitarian access to areas not under military control, and calls have been made for both the military authorities and opposition groups to ensure full and unhindered access to affected areas.
