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Myanmar’s long road back

Six months after the earthquake

September 30^th, 2025

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MANDALAY, Myanmar — Six months have passed since a powerful earthquake rattled central Myanmar, leaving behind a trail of shattered homes and broken livelihoods. In the heart of Mandalay, where the tremors hit hardest, the scars are everywhere: collapsed pagodas, makeshift shelters, and the persistent hum of uncertainty. Yet, amid the rubble, a new story is emerging: one of resilience, community, and the urgent need for a coordinated and large-scale response.

Myanmar’s earthquake struck a country already at a crossroads, four years into a civil war and political upheaval which unraveled much of the progress made in reducing poverty and building economic growth. The COVID-19 pandemic, a military takeover, and ongoing violence had pushed millions to the brink. The earthquake, in many ways, was a cruel blow to a nation already on its knees.

The scale of needs

The numbers are staggering. More than 12,500 people have been forced to flee their homes, and over 93,000 remain highly vulnerable, particularly women-led households, people with disabilities, and families already displaced by conflict.

Across the Sagaing fault area, which extends 1,400 kilometres through central Myanmar and particularly in Mandalay, Sagaing, Bago, and parts of Nay Pyi Taw, entire communities have been upended.

Over 33,000 buildings, including homes, schools, shops, and water systems, have been damaged or destroyed. Community spaces for women and children, as well as religious and cultural sites that are often the lifeblood of the community, have borne the brunt of the destruction. Across six regions, 289 temples and 322 monasteries, churches or mosques were reported damaged.

For many, the loss of these spiritual and cultural anchors is as devastating as the loss of shelter or livelihood. In Myanmar, monasteries are more than places of worship. They provide shelter, education, and a sense of belonging. Their restoration is a top priority for local people, alongside schools, water and sanitation systems and health services.

Six months on, the needs remain massive and urgent.

Debris still blocks homes, clinics, and schools in more than 300 communities. Most places lack the equipment, workforce, or clear plans for safe disposal.

“Until the rubble is cleared, rebuilding cannot begin,” says a local community leader in Mandalay.

Livelihoods have been devastated. In the affected regions, four out of five communities depend on day or seasonal labour, mainly in farming and commerce. The earthquake wiped out farms, markets and small businesses. Tourism, once a major employer, has also suffered, with at least 400 hotels and guesthouses damaged or destroyed.

Women, in particular, are carrying a heavier burden. Women face more unpaid care work, lost income, and added safety risks.

“Women-led households or single mothers are having greater problems rebuilding their houses,” says a UNDP field officer. “It’s important that they’re part of recovery planning from the start.”

Essential services are under strain. Primary health services have been particularly hard-hit, with at least 35 rural health centres, 33 private clinics, and 21 community health clinics damaged. Larger hospitals, while less physically affected, face disruptions in surgical and intensive care. Many communities now struggle to access essential health care, routine vaccinations and treatment for chronic illnesses.
Power cuts, already common, have worsened since the earthquake. Nine percent of affected households now have no power at all, and many face extended outages. Most have reverted to firewood or charcoal for cooking, with solar lights and candles as temporary fixes.

Ecosystems under stress. Damaged ecosystems such as lakes, rivers, and groundwater further complicate recovery, affecting food, water, and health, and raising the risk of longer-term displacement or disease.
Legal and social tensions. The earthquake has also complicated property rights, with disputes over rent, shelter and permits delaying rebuilding. Some families are in a state of uncertainty, particularly those whose rented properties were destroyed, as they lack clarity on their entitlements. Communities need clear information, legal advice and simple processes for resolving disputes.

From immediate response to early recovery and longer-term resilience

The scale of needs following the disaster has activated a comprehensive response, mobilizing community groups and international partners.

Thanks to UNDP’s core resources, which ensure a continued country presence and enable rapid action in times of crisis, and generous contributions from partners such as the Republic of Korea, Japan, and UNDP’s Funding Windows, UNDP launched a comprehensive plan just days after the earthquake. Initially focused on clearing debris., providing temporary shelters, assessing damage to homes and buildings, ensuring clean drinking water, and distributing emergency relief packages. Now the early recovery phase is fully underway, with tangible progress.

UNDP has brought its expertise on early recovery and rebuilding, to lead the early recovery cluster under the architecture of the Humanitarian Response Plan, bringing together 87 organizations, including local and international NGOs, UN agencies, development partners, and thematic groups such as disaster risk reduction.

Rebuilding on the strength of communities

UNDP’s approach to recovery in Myanmar is rooted in the belief that the greatest assets are the communities themselves. As Rahul Pandit, an early recovery expert at UNDP based in Mandalay explains, “We are rebuilding on the strengths of communities.”

This means UNDP does not directly build houses but instead helps people to build their own houses. It supports an owner-driven approach that allows families to reconstruct their homes using local traditions and materials, such as wood and bamboo, and responding to their own family needs. UNDP is helping households combine this traditional knowledge with hazard- and earthquake-resistant upgrades. As of mid-September, over 750 families were able to rebuild their houses following this approach. UNDP is also supporting the reconstruction of larger buildings that are central to community life—hospitals, schools, and other essential service facilities—ensuring that the heart of each community can beat again.

The devastation of livelihoods has made income generation critical. To address this, UNDP has used cash-for-work initiatives, enabling families to earn money as they clear debris and begin rebuilding. Debris needs to be safely managed, since haphazard disposal, especially near water, poses health and environmental risks and proper training is essential.

Teams assessing building damage travel from village to village, evaluating the condition of buildings and small houses to ensure that recovery is effective. Teams work with residents to safely remove rubble from homes, clinics, and schools. Every effort is made to assess which materials can be reused or recycled, supporting recovery that is mindful of immediate needs and long-term resilience. UNDP has already assess the damaged for 2,000 houses with recommendations on how to repair or rebuild.

Legal support is another cornerstone of UNDP’s work, with specialists helping families, especially those from minority groups, navigate the complex terrain of property rights, housing, and land ownership. Renters also face challenges.

Recognizing that women face heightened risks during crises, from lack of privacy and security in shelters to increased vulnerability to gender-based violence, UNDP has been working with other UN agencies to roll out targeted support. In addition to cash-for-work programmes, vocational training is offered to boost women’s employability. UNDP also conducts regular workshops to protect women from exploitation and abuse, and is monitoring at every step to make sure women’s safety and dignity are prioritized throughout the recovery.

One of the most transformative elements of UNDP’s response are the Community Hubs for Recovery. Acting as one-stop centres, these embed UNDP’s expertise directly within communities, providing personalized, context-sensitive recovery support, meeting families where they are. By the end of 2025, around 150 existing and new community and village development committees are expected to be operational.

This comprehensive, locally led approach supports communities in Myanmar to rebuild not just structures, but lives, livelihoods and community. UNDP is committed to reaching vulnerable people wherever they are, empowering local decision-making, and building resilience from the ground up, often in partnership with local civil society organizations.

An opportunity for a stronger post-crisis Myanmar?

The needs remain massive, and the path to recovery will be long. But widening the scope of response from early recovery to longer-term rebuilding presents the best opportunity to strengthen Myanmar’s social fabric and build lasting foundations for peace.

UNDP is committed to scaling up its efforts, aiming to reach up to eight million people by the end of 2025. But this will require serious investment and a well-coordinated response from all partners.

As Myanmar stands at this critical crossroads, the choice is clear: invest in recovery, resilience, and peace, or risk seeing a generation lost to crisis and despair. The people of Myanmar have shown remarkable strength and determination. Now, they need the world to stand with them.