This disaster strikes as the country is already facing a multidimensional crisis—political, economic, social, health, and humanitarian.
“The priority will be to respond to the most urgent needs: care, water, food, shelter. Médecins du Monde teams already on the ground tell us that hospitals are overwhelmed. Starting tomorrow, we will send reinforcements to Mandalay—near the earthquake’s epicenter—to assess needs and provide assistance to the population as quickly as possible. We are also concerned about access difficulties due to both the earthquake’s aftermath and the ongoing armed conflict in the country,” warns Helena Ranchal, Director of International Operations at Médecins du Monde France.
Médecins du Monde has been present in Myanmar since 2000. The 250 staff members in the country are safe and preparing to deliver an appropriate response as soon as possible to assist the population.
As part of its work in Myanmar, Médecins du Monde strives to promote equitable access to health and rights for all. Our harm reduction programs offer prevention, treatment, and support services to vulnerable groups, such as sex workers and men who have sex with men – MSM in Yangon, as well as people who inject drugs in Kachin.
Photo: © Sai Aung MAIN – AFP