On Friday, March 28, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar, with tremors felt across Thailand, including Bangkok. According to the Associated Press, more than 2,000 people have died. Myanmar’s second largest city, Mandalay, was hit hard by the quake, experiencing damage to the city’s airports, roadways, and buildings. Relief efforts have been impacted by power outages, fuel shortages, and sparse communications. Search-and-rescue operations are moving slowly, forcing rescuers to search by hand for survivors in scorching temperatures (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
In response, the international community has rallied to send humanitarian aid resources to support locally-led responses in Myanmar and Thailand. You can support organizations that are doing work on the ground. Members of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) community are already mobilizing and providing support for those in need. See below for the latest information on what the CGI community is doing.
Afya
The Afya Foundation is actively responding and assessing on-the-ground medical needs since the earthquake and distributing medical supplies to local partners. You can donate to Afya’s earthquake response effort here.
Airlink
Airlink is responding to the crisis by coordinating with more than 15 NGOs to provide free airlift assistance. Airlink is in close coordination with regional partners, providing flight and logistics assistance, which has been a major response hurdle due to heavy damage to key airports. Airlink is also organizing transport for urban search and rescue teams.
You can donate to Airlink’s response fund for the earthquakes here. Your donations will support responder’s life-saving assistance, including search and rescue, emergency medical care, and more.
All Hands and Hearts
In the immediate aftermath of the quake, All Hands and Hearts was in Bangkok, Thailand, mobilizing resources, addressing immediate needs and assessing how it can best support affected communities. AHAH is still on the ground, assessing the need in Bangkok and working to identify local organizations in need of their support. You can donate here to All Hands and Hearts.
CARE
CARE is taking action, working to ensure access to urgent health and medical services for women and families. You can donate today to support CARE’s response in Myanmar here.
Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP)
Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) is providing resources for humanitarian response and disaster recovery funding. You can donate to CDP’s relief effort here.
Direct Relief
Direct Relief, which has a long history of response in the region, is mobilizing emergency response efforts in coordination with the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, an inter-governmental cooperative that collaborates across Australia, China, European Union, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United States of America
You can donate to Direct Relief here. 100% of all donations for the Myanmar-Thailand Earthquake are used solely on expenses related to supporting that response.
International Medical Corps
IMC has begun mobilizing its response by providing direct emergency-care services, including surgical services and advanced trauma care. Many hospitals and medical facilities were affected by the quake, so IMC is working closely with international and local authorities to assess conditions and coordinate relief efforts, including deploying an Emergency Medical Team to the area to provide medical and mental healthcare to people in need, the website states. You can donate here to help survivors receive urgent medical care and supplies.
IsraAID
A team of workers from the nongovernmental organization, IsraAID, are providing access to water, sanitarian, and hygiene resources. IsraAID is also deploying mental health and psychosocial support to those in need. You can donate here to support IsraAID’s response efforts.
Save the Children
Save the Children and its partners are providing lifesaving aid in earthquake-affected areas in Myanmar with an immediate need for water, food and health care services for children and their families, according to the Save the Children website. You can support Save the Children here.
Urgent Action Fund
Urgent Action Fund is continuing to support women, trans, and non-binary human rights defenders and activists in Myanmar. The Urgent Action Fund is mobilizing a rapid response for grant making, ensuring that women’s rights organizations and community-led organizations are supported with the least bureaucratic processes. You can donate to the Urgent Action Fund here.
World Central Kitchen
A global food relief nonprofit, World Central Kitchen is currently on the ground in the aftermath of the quake, partnering with local restaurants and community members to provide meals in the region. You can donate to the organization here.
World Food Programme
The UN World Food Programme is supporting 100,000 people in the worst hit areas with ready-to-eat meals. WFP is also providing cash-for-food assistance to nearly 800,000 people over the next month. You can donate to this organization here.
World Jewish Relief
World Jewish Relief has a long history of providing life-saving support to victims in crisis, and their work continues on the ground in the Mandalay Region as they help roughly 7,500 people with emergency shelter, hygiene kits, drinking water, blankets, food packages, and first aid kits. You can donate to World Jewish Relief here.
We will share updated information as the situation in earthquake-affected Myanmar and Thailand develops, and as other partners begin to or expand their response efforts.