By Min Zan

ON 28 March 2025, a 7.7-magnitude earth­quake rocked central Myanmar, carving a path of destruction through cities like Mandalay, Sagaing, Nay Pyi Taw, Yame­thin, Kyaukse, Inlay, Amarapu­ra, etc. Recognized globally as a catastrophic event, it claimed thousands of lives, obliterated homes, and shattered infrastruc­ture. Ten days on, efforts to clear debris dominate, as the sheer scale of devastation hinders the shift to rebuilding. Here, I would like to examine the ongoing re­covery, exploring the positive and negative impacts of debris clearance, strategies for physical and mental rehabilitation, the effectiveness of international aid, preparations for future disasters with Japan as a model, and the unyielding human spirit that per­sists against nature’s wrath.

Debris Clearance:

Clearing rubble from col­lapsed structures, roads, and public spaces is the immediate focus, a task that reveals both progress and persistent chal­lenges.

Debris clearance has sparked remarkable community solidarity. In Mandalay, volun­teers – students, monks, and shopkeepers – work alongside survivors, using shovels and bare hands to reclaim streets. This collective effort has reo­pened access to hospitals and markets, restoring fragments of normalcy. In Sagaing, a youth-led initiative salvaged bricks and wood to build temporary shelters, showcasing ingenui­ty amid scarcity. These efforts have also uncovered survivors, like a child rescued after five days in Nay Pyi Taw, fueling hope. Local businesses, despite losses, have donated food and tools, reinforcing social bonds and proving that crises can unite even divided communities.

Yet, the process is ago­nizingly slow. The shortage of heavy machinery, exacerbated by Myanmar’s economic con­straints, leaves high-rise ruins in Mandalay and Naypyidaw as dangerous obstacles. Unsta­ble structures collapse unpre­dictably, endangering workers – reports indicate at least ten injuries during clearance in Amarapura. Coordination gaps persist; in Yamethin, multiple groups cleared the same site while others were neglected. Environmental risks loom large: improper debris disposal threat­ens water sources, especially with monsoons nearing. The emotional weight is heavier still. Uncovering bodies amid the rubble forces families to confront loss repeatedly, deep­ening trauma in communities already stretched thin by grief and displacement.

Physical and Mental Reha­bilitation

Restoring Myanmar’s af­fected regions demands a dual focus on physical infrastructure and mental well-being to rebuild lives holistically.

Physically, the priority is safe housing, healthcare, and economic recovery. Tempo­rary shelters, built with earth­quake-resistant designs, are critical to protect survivors from aftershocks and seasonal rains. In Sagaing, bamboo-based shelters have proven cost-ef­fective, but scaling this model requires funding and expertise. Healthcare systems, long un­derfunded, need mobile clinics to treat injuries, infections, and chronic illnesses worsened by displacement. For instance, diabetes patients in Mandalay have struggled without access to insulin. Economic recovery hinges on livelihoods – cash-for-work programmes can engage survivors in rebuilding efforts, while agricultural aid, like seeds and irrigation support, can revive farming. Long-term, urban planning must prioritize resilient infrastructure, such as retrofitted schools and bridges, to prevent future collapses.

Mentally, the earthquake has left scars that may outlast physical ruins. Grief, fear, and uncertainty grip survivors, com­pounded by Myanmar’s ongoing conflict. Community-led men­tal health initiatives are vital, with local leaders and monks offering counselling in famil­iar settings. In Amarapura, a temple has become a hub for support groups, where sur­vivors share stories and find solace. Children, particularly vulnerable, need school-based programs incorporating art and play to process trauma – UNICEF’s pilot in Nay Pyi Taw shows promise. Women, often primary caregivers, face unique stressors; targeted support, like women-only safe spaces, can alleviate their burden. Public campaigns highlighting resil­ience, such as radio broadcasts of survivors’ stories, can coun­ter despair and foster hope across fractured communities.

International Aid

Global support has poured in, but its impact varies, shaped by logistical barriers and My­anmar’s complex political land­scape.

Effectiveness

Immediate aid from region­al powers has been lifesaving. China deployed rescue teams to Mandalay, extracting dozens from the rubble, while India’s field hospital in Nay Pyi Taw treated over 5,000 patients in a week. Thailand and Vietnam supplied food and tents, reaching urban centres quickly. ASEAN’s coordination has streamlined regional efforts – Singapore’s logistics hub expedited deliver­ies, and Malaysia’s water purifi­cation units addressed shortag­es in Sagaing. UN agencies have been pivotal: WFP fed 50,000 displaced people, and WHO dis­tributed medical kits. NGOs like Médecins Sans Frontières have filled gaps, operating clinics in remote Yamethin. These efforts have stabilized urban areas, pre­venting disease outbreaks and mass starvation.

Limitations

However, the aid’s reach is uneven. The authorities’ tight control has sparked accusations of aid diversion, with reports of supplies stockpiled in the strongholds while some of the areas starve. In Sagaing’s ru­ral pockets, damaged roads and communication blackouts delay deliveries – some villages waited a week for help. Funding remains a bottleneck; the UN’s $1.2 billion appeal is only 30 per cent funded, limiting long-term aid. Geopolit­ical shifts have reduced Western contributions – US sanctions and domestic priorities have slashed its role, leaving regional donors overstretched. Cultural misun­derstandings also hinder efforts; for instance, unfamiliar food aid has been underutilized in some communities. While impactful in parts, aid must navigate these hurdles to achieve equity and sustainability.

Preparing for Future Disas­ters

Myanmar’s exposure to earthquakes and floods demands robust preparedness. Japan’s disaster-ready framework offers actionable lessons for individu­als and authorities.

Individual Preparedness

Citizens must adopt proac­tive habits. Japan’s households maintain emergency kits with food, water, and first-aid supplies for 72 hours – Myanmar could adopt this, prioritizing rice, can­dles, and portable stoves suit­ed to local needs. Community drills, like Japan’s September 1 simulations, teach evacuation and safety protocols. In My­anmar, village-level exercises could identify safe zones and train residents in basic rescue. Awareness campaigns via radio and pagodas can emphasize se­curing furniture and avoiding unsafe buildings. In Naypyidaw, a post-quake initiative taught 1,000 families to anchor shelves, a small but replicable step. Fi­nancial preparedness, like Ja­pan’s micro-insurance schemes, could cushion economic shocks if tailored to Myanmar’s infor­mal economy.

Government Responsibility

Authorities must build sys­temic resilience. Japan’s strin­gent building codes, mandating quake-proof designs, prevented mass collapses in recent trem­ors – Myanmar must enforce similar standards, starting with urban centres like Mandalay. Retrofitting public buildings, as Japan did post-Kobe 1995, is urgent; schools and clinics must be safe havens. Early warning systems, like Japan’s J-Alert, provide critical seconds to act – Myanmar could pilot seismic sensors in high-risk zones. Decentralized response teams, trained and equipped lo­cally, contrast with Myanmar’s centralized, military-led model. Pre-positioning supplies, as Ja­pan does in regional warehous­es, would speed aid to remote Sagaing. Public-private part­nerships, inspired by Japan’s corporate disaster funds, could bolster resources if Myanmar’s government fosters trust with businesses.

Humanity’s Resilience Against Nature’s Fury

Nature’s dominance is un­deniable – earthquakes, tsuna­mis, and storms humble even the mightiest societies. Yet, humanity’s response is equally fierce. Myanmar’s people, bat­tered by conflict, poverty, and now this quake, refuse to break. In Yamethin, farmers share meagre harvests with displaced families. In Mandalay, teenag­ers form human chains to pass debris, driven by unspoken sol­idarity. These acts echo global stories: Japan’s recovery from Fukushima, Nepal’s rebuilding after 2015, and Haiti’s persis­tence post-2010. No victory over nature is permanent, but sur­render is unthinkable.

This resilience thrives on connection. Strangers become kin in crisis, as seen in Amarapu­ra’s communal kitchens feeding hundreds daily. Yet, resilience requires pragmatism – learning from each disaster to lessen the next. Myanmar’s challenge is to channel this spirit into prepar­edness, ensuring homes stand stronger and communities re­spond faster. Humanity may never tame the earth, but its refusal to yield defines it. Myan­mar’s journey, though gruelling, proves that even in the darkest rubble, hope endures, urging us to rebuild, adapt, and rise again.

In addition, I would like to emphasize highlighting the sit­uation in the Inlay Lake region, where rescue efforts are lag­ging following the earthquake’s devastation. The earthquake that struck central Myanmar severely impacted the lives of Inlay Lake’s residents. While areas like Sagaing, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw are consid­ered priority regions and are receiving aid and rescue oper­ations, Inlay Lake seems to be largely overlooked. According to surveys, the earthquake de­stroyed 75 per cent of homes in Inlay Lake, and the number of deaths is too numerous to count accurately. Rescue teams are scarcely reaching the area, and news about Inlay Lake bare­ly reaches the public, which is deeply saddening. The residents of Inlay Lake are in such a dire state that, let alone rebuilding efforts, even recovering bodies remain unaddressed. Access to clean water and medical supplies is a critical, urgent need. Geographically, due to the earthquake, muddy water from surrounding streams and hills is flowing into Inlay Lake, causing further damage. As a result, the lake’s natural beauty is being destroyed, and it faces the threat of becoming shallow­er. In truth, Inlay Lake is one of Myanmar’s proud treasures of natural beauty, and it urgently needs preservation. Relevant experts must take swift action to save and restore Inlay Lake.

In brief, the 28 March 2025 earthquake has tested Myan­mar’s limits, exposing frail­ties while igniting collective strength. Debris clearance, though arduous, lays the foun­dation for recovery, blending tri­umphs with trials. Rebuilding lives demands nurturing bodies, minds, and livelihoods to restore dignity. International aid, vital yet imperfect, must reach all corners equitably. Preparing for future disasters, guided by Ja­pan’s example, is a shared mis­sion – citizens and leaders must unite. Above all, Myanmar’s sto­ry reflects humanity’s defiance against nature’s might. Though the ground trembles, the hu­man spirit holds firm, ready to rebuild, one determined step at a time.