Media Release
New Zealand Red Cross launches emergency appeal for Myanmar
30 March 2025
New Zealand Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal to raise funds for Myanmar after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit the centre of the country on 28 March.
Secretary General Sarah Stuart-Black says the devastation caused in Myanmar has been immense, and urgent help is needed for what is anticipated to be millions of people impacted by the initial earthquake and its strong aftershocks.
“The disaster has caused damage to infrastructure, leaving many injured or homeless. Tragically, lives have been lost.
“The number of people killed and injured is expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue,” Stuart-Black says.
The earthquake caused the collapse of several multi-story buildings, and emergency teams, including volunteers from Myanmar Red Cross, have been deployed to assess the situation and help those impacted.
Key infrastructure, including bridges, the airport and communications have been severely damaged in the earthquake and aftershocks. This includes the headquarters of the Myanmar Red Cross Society Nay Pyi Taw and the Mandalay Emergency Operations Centre.
Funds raised through New Zealand Red Cross Myanmar Earthquake Appeal will assist with the response and recovery of the people impacted by this devastating earthquake and its aftershocks.
“As well as the Appeal, we are on standby to assist Myanmar Red Cross further.” Red Cross experts may be deployed to help with the co-ordination of response and recovery efforts, distribution of supplies, or getting vital communications up and running again.
Stuart-Black notes that Myanmar was already facing a severe humanitarian situation due to the impact of years of conflict, and Typhoon Yagi in September 2024, which caused severe flooding and landslides affecting over 1.1 million people.
“This earthquake will exacerbate the humanitarian needs in Myanmar, and the country and its people will need substantial help in the response and recovery from this latest emergency.”
She expects that New Zealanders will give generously to the Appeal, as they did to the Vanuatu Appeal launched by New Zealand Red Cross shortly before Christmas last year which raised more than $250,000.