Jesuit Mission Australia is urgently appealing for support to help people affected by the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on 28 March.
Partnering with Myanmar Emergency Response Church Initiative (MERCI), Jesuit Mission Australia is working with local Jesuit partners, the Archdiocese of Mandalay and local Church organisations to provide critical food, water, shelter, hygiene, sanitation and medical equipment, and psychosocial support to those most impacted by the earthquake.
The earthquake has claimed 3,145 lives as of 3 April. Another 4,589 are wounded and 221 are still missing. In some cities, at least 80 per cent of buildings and houses are totally destroyed. This disaster adds to the country’s already fragile state, exacerbated by ongoing political violence, economic collapse and recent floods, crises that have collectively displaced more than 3.5 million people.
The people of Myanmar have faced relentless challenges in recent years, and this disaster has only compounded their hardship.
Access to clean water and electricity is limited in many regions, and infrastructure, including roads and bridges, has been severely damaged, making aid delivery difficult. Three hospitals have been crushed, and people are being treated outside on the streets. Health care facilities are overwhelmed, and the risk of waterborne diseases is high.
‘The situation is dire, and the suffering is unimaginable. The people of Myanmar have faced relentless challenges in recent years, and this disaster has only compounded their hardship,’ says a Jesuit on the ground.
Through prayers, awareness and aid—we can bring light to these shadows.
‘Yet, amid the darkness, your love shines through … With your continued solidarity—through prayers, awareness and aid—we can bring light to these shadows.’
Tragically, one of the young teachers from a Jesuit Mission–supported school in Yangon, the Campion Institute, lost her life as she was visiting Mandalay when the earthquake destroyed her accommodation.
‘Let us hold the people of Myanmar in our hearts and prayers, that they may find strength, comfort and hope in this darkest hour,’ says Helen Forde, CEO of Jesuit Mission Australia.
Jesuit Mission Australia is committed to uplifting the people of Myanmar in the wake of this devastating crisis. Please donate today.
Banner image: Displaced people wait in line for food and relief supplies in Mandalay, Myanmar, 3 April 2025. A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar midday on 28 March, with the death toll reaching 3,145 as of 3 April. Another 4,589 are wounded and 221 are still missing. Humanitarian organisations in the region are working round the clock to get essential supplies to those in need. (Photo: OSV News/Reuters.)
