By Ai Igarashi | Member of Advocacy Team
We extend our deepest gratitude for your continued interest in our work.
This is an urgent update (dated May 8th) from the earthquake and fire-affected areas of Myanmar, specifically the slum communities in western Mandalay and the often-overlooked Sagaing Region.
The situation is constantly changing, presenting numerous challenges to relief efforts. However, the staff of Terra Renaissance's local partner organization are on the ground, adapting to these changes and tirelessly working to identify and deliver the assistance that is truly needed.
A Shifting Landscape in Western Mandalay's Slums
In the western slums of Mandalay, 760 families who lost their homes to the earthquake and subsequent fires were barely managing to take precarious shelter on the grounds of a public school. We were initially preparing to deliver raised wooden beds to lift them off the cold and damp ground due to the coming floods during the approaching rainy season. But then, everything changed. Those victims were ordered to leave the premises by the school authorities - they are now exposed and unsheltered once more. Our plans to provide safe spaces with essential bedding were shattered overnight.
New Challenges in Aid Delivery: The Complex Reality of Providing a Bed
In this unexpected situation, we asked ourselves, "What do they truly need now?" For families forced to move again, heavy wooden beds could become a burden rather than a help. That is why we made the difficult decision to pause and reassess our approach. We are not an organization that simply hands out supplies; we are committed to listening to the voices on the ground and delivering aid that is not only effective but also preserves their dignity. We are now urgently researching new shelter solutions - materials that are portable, durable, and can protect them from the cold monsoon rains.
Reaching the Overlooked Sagaing Region
Our work doesn't stop in Mandalay. Far from the media's spotlight, in the Sagaing Region, countless others are suffering in silence. Working closely with our trusted local partners, we are traveling directly to these forgotten communities. We are focusing on the most vulnerable, especially the elderly who have lost their homes and have no source of income or food. We provide them with direct cash assistance to survive. Your support becomes their lifeline.
Latest Updates and Next Steps: Adapting to Change
Faced with this rapidly changing environment, our Terra Renaissance team on the ground is constantly adapting, asking: "How can we maximize our limited resources?" and "What assistance do the affected people truly need?"
Our immediate next steps include:
Your Support Makes a Difference: Adapting to Meet Real Needs
The reality in the disaster-stricken areas is constantly changing. We are committed to working with our local partners to listen to the voices of those affected and deliver the truly necessary aid timely and flexibly.
With the monsoon season approaching, addressing new needs such as shelter and sanitation is becoming increasingly urgent.
To ensure that Terra Renaissance can continue to stand by the people affected by the Myanmar earthquake and provide detailed support that adapts to the changing circumstances, we need your compassionate support.
Please consider making a donation to Terra Renaissance's emergency relief efforts. Thank you for your compassion.
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
