ADRA Continues Aid Amidst Myanmar’s Rising Death Toll
31 March 2025 |
The death toll of Myanmar’s powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake continues to climb. Fatalities number over 2,000, with limited resources slowing humanitarian efforts. Adventist Disaster and Relief Agency (ADRA) immediately mobilized after the quake struck on Friday, March 28, 2025, at approximately 12:50 pm local time. The earthquake’s epicenter was located in Myanmar’s center, Sagaing. The quake’s magnitude caused a ripple effect, leading catastrophic destruction across the surrounding regions and sending tremors as far as Thailand, China, and India.
ANN reported on the incident:
“Our response teams are traveling to affected communities to establish the best strategy for relief operations,” said Mario Oliveira, ADRA’s director of Emergency Management. “Despite collapsed infrastructure and communication barriers, we remain committed to reaching those in greatest need.”
Members of the Adventist Mission there leaped into action, with reports of Adventist aid workers helping in the evacuation efforts. Hundreds of buildings collapsed under the intensity of the natural disaster, including churches, mosques, and monasteries. The quake occurred during Ramadan; over 700 Muslims reportedly died in their place of worship. 200 Buddhist monks were crushed by a collapsing monastery.
The governments asked for aid and support. However, as reported by the Associated Press (AP), accessibility is hampered due to civil war. As it is, the areas affected are grappling with hunger and disease, crumbling infrastructure, power outages, fuel shortages, and poor connection. A general lack of heavy machinery means search and rescue efforts are severely handicapped. Relief agencies such as ADRA are proceeding slowly. Over 20 million are in need of humanitarian assistance.
Broken telecommunications means the full extent of the damage is yet to be determined. ADRA and other humanitarian aid groups have been offering necessary support as best they can: medical care, mental health support, hygiene needs, shelter, and food.
