When disaster strikes, it’s not only buildings that crumble — it’s the sense of safety, stability, and hope that disappears, too. In the aftermath of the recent earthquake in Myanmar, Mi Mi Tun, a volunteer from the Sagaing Region, traveled to Mandalay with one goal: to bring comfort to children navigating unimaginable loss. Mi Mi shared:
“Some kids — even though they weren’t directly hurt by the earthquake — still scream in fear at night.”
Through simple games, art, and conversation, Mi Mi and her fellow volunteers are creating safe spaces for children in displacement camps to express themselves, laugh, and reconnect with joy. These small moments are powerful acts of resistance against despair.
Mi Mi is volunteering with a local organization, coordinating emergency responses in the most affected regions, including Mandalay, Sagaing, and Inle Lake. With support from ActionAid, these partners are delivering vital aid — from clean water and nutrition for mothers and children, to mental health support and pop-up playgroups for kids like the ones Mi Mi cares for. She told us:
“These kids are really struggling emotionally right now. They’ve lost their homes, and while we can’t rebuild their homes, we can give them the emotional support they need. We’re helping them regain their strength.”
The scale of devastation is immense. In Myanmar’s Inle Lake region, thousands of people have been left homeless and stranded on small boats after the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck on Friday. Entire floating villages were submerged, and countless lives were lost. Families who once lived in Inle’s picturesque, stilted homes now have nowhere to go — forced to sleep in the open, exposed to extreme heat, contaminated water, and worsening sanitary conditions.
ActionAid is supporting local organizations in Inle, Mandalay, and Sagaing to deliver urgently needed food, water, and emergency supplies. Amid so much destruction, it’s the courage of volunteers like Mi Mi — and the strength of the communities they serve — that keeps hope alive. This response is being led by local organizations, with ActionAid providing resources and support to ensure their work reaches as many people as possible as quickly as possible.
