Bonn/Mandalay/Yangon, March 24, 2026. One year after the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, many people in the heavily affected regions of Mandalay and Sagaing are still struggling with the consequences of the disaster. While some families have been able to repair their homes and begin to rebuild their lives, reconstruction efforts are stalling due to cuts in international funding. Millions of people continue to live in makeshift shelters.
Especially in rural areas, there is a lack of income opportunities and access to clean drinking water. Currently, around 12.4 million people are suffering from acute food insecurity, and 8.5 million are dependent on food aid. The ongoing war in Iran is leading to rising fuel and fertilizer prices and is hitting a country that is already in the midst of a severe humanitarian crisis.
Reconstruction under difficult conditions
“One year after the earthquake, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and other organizations were able to reach around 1.7 million people with life-saving aid. Nevertheless, the reconstruction of housing and infrastructure is progressing only slowly. Funding gaps, restricted access for aid organizations, and the ongoing crisis in the country are significantly slowing the progress,” says Henry Braun, Country Director of WHH in Myanmar.
“The escalation of the war in the Middle East is making the situation even worse. Fuel prices have also risen significantly in Myanmar. Long lines are forming at gas stations and transportation costs are rising. This makes daily life more expensive for people, as well as the delivery of relief supplies and access to markets and health services.”
Communities in Mandalay show resilience
Despite the difficult conditions, many communities are pushing ahead with reconstruction with great commitment. “The affected village communities are showing impressive resilience. People are rebuilding their homes and supporting each other. At the same time, many families who have lost their homes and income continue to face major challenges. Some had to sell critical assets such as farmland or borrow to survive – rising prices further exacerbate the situation,” emphasizes Mi Mi Kyaw, regional director of WHH in Mandalay.
“When fuel becomes more expensive due to the crisis in the Middle East and transport costs more, it mainly affects poor households, displaced people and rural communities. Even small additional price increases can lead to families buying less food or having to postpone important expenditures, such as health care.”
Aid is making a difference – but the need remains enormous
WHH provided emergency aid immediately after the earthquake and is now supporting rebuilding efforts, for example through cash assistance, the restoration of water and sanitation systems, and the construction of roads to improve access to markets, schools, and health services.
“Without reliable and sufficient funding, the situation for millions of people is likely to worsen further,” warns Henry Braun. “Right now, it is crucial that the international community responds to the economic consequences of the escalating conflict in the Middle East—for example, by supporting local markets and ensuring stable supply chains for essential relief goods.”
WHH remains on the ground
WHH has been active in Myanmar since 2002 and supports affected people even under the most difficult conditions. The current focus is on reconstruction, securing livelihoods, and providing clean water and food. In light of recent sharp price increases, cash assistance and securing supply chains are becoming increasingly important.
Henry Braun, Country Director of Welthungerhilfe (WHH) in Myanmar is available for interviews.
Welthungerhilfe is one of the largest private aid organizations in Germany; it is politically independent and non-denominational. With courage and determination, it is striving for a world without hunger. Since it was founded on December 14, 1962, 12,777 overseas projects in about 72 countries and territories have been supported with 5.42 billion euros. Welthungerhilfe follows the principle of empowering people to help themselves to sustainably improve their living conditions, through approaches ranging from fast disaster relief to reconstruction and long-term development cooperation projects with national and international partner organizations.
