The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the recent earthquake in Myanmar a top-level emergency, urging $8 million in urgent funding to address immediate health needs and prevent disease outbreaks in the coming 30 days.
This declaration comes after the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck near the central city of Mandalay on Friday, followed by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock, killing more than 1,700 people in Myanmar and at least 18 in neighbouring Thailand.
The WHO has classified the crisis as a Grade 3 emergency, its highest activation level under the Emergency Response Framework.
The agency expressed deep concern over the high number of casualties and trauma-related injuries that are now at risk of infection due to Myanmar’s limited surgical capacity and fragile health infrastructure.
Furthermore, the damage to essential infrastructure such as electricity and water supplies is exacerbating the situation, making access to health services more difficult and increasing the likelihood of waterborne and foodborne disease outbreaks.
The WHO’s appeal for $8 million is aimed at addressing the immediate health needs of those affected by the disaster, including trauma care, disease prevention, and the restoration of essential health services.
Hospitals in the affected areas are already overwhelmed by the number of casualties, and the full extent of the damage to health facilities has not yet been fully assessed.
The destruction of water and sanitation systems, combined with the displacement of people into overcrowded shelters, has greatly increased the risk of communicable diseases such as cholera and dengue.
The WHO highlighted several urgent health needs, including trauma and surgical care, blood transfusion supplies, anaesthetics, and essential medicines.
Disease surveillance is also critical to prevent outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and dengue. To address these challenges, the first supplies of trauma kits and multi-purpose tents have already arrived at a 1,000-bed hospital in Naypyidaw, with additional supplies on their way to Mandalay General Hospital.
Beyond the immediate medical needs, the continuity of essential health services, including immunisation and maternal and child health care, will be crucial over the next month as the region recovers from this devastating event.
This earthquake has struck Myanmar at a time when the country is already grappling with widespread displacement, fragile health systems, and ongoing disease outbreaks, including cholera.
The WHO emphasised that this disaster compounds an already dire humanitarian situation, further highlighting the urgent need for global support in Myanmar’s recovery efforts.
