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Call for donations: Solidarity with Myanmar: Help for committed activists and earthquake victims
Myanmar is currently facing a double crisis: The devastating earthquake on 28 March 2025 claimed over 2,886 lives (as of 2 April 2025) and triggered a serious humanitarian catastrophe. Buildings, hospitals and roads are destroyed, communication routes are interrupted. For many activists and trade unionists, the earthquake is adding to an already threatening situation. They are not only victims of the destruction caused by the quake, but also continue to be the target of oppression and persecution by the military junta. Just hours after the quake, the junta continued its bombings in the Karen State, an area where many resistance fighters are present.
However, our local partners, in particular the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM), are working tirelessly. They are on their way to help people in Mandalay and Sagaing. Her work includes both medical care and exploration of the members of CTUM affected by the earthquake.
Our FEMNET employee Ohnmar comes from Myanmar and explains the current status.
The great destruction now causes supply bottlenecks, there is a risk of disease because the drinking water supply has been destroyed and large parts of the population have become homeless. Nevertheless, they are under bombardment by the military junta, as the regions affected by the earthquake are also home to the democracy movement.
FEMNET has been working with CTUM in Myanmar for several years. Thanks to our cooperation with these courageous teams, we can ensure that much-needed help arrives where it is most needed. For this we need your support!
Every donation helps to support the efforts of our partners and to protect activists and trade unionists.
Update 08.04.2025:
Even 10 days after the earthquake, the dead are recovered from the collapsed buildings. By 7 April 2025, the death toll in Myanmar had exceeded 4,300 and more than 600 people were injured. Unfortunately, the weather conditions with heavy rains and thunderstorms currently made the salvage work more difficult.
Our partner organization CTUM sent us photos again. They show envelopes in which amounts of money are handed over to enable those affected to purchase the most necessary things and food. But also the enormous destruction and the work of the CTUM rescue teams.
- CTUM sent us a detailed and up-to-date report on the work so far on 07.04.2025. (PDF)
We translated it into German.
Photos: © CTUM
Update 02.04.2025:
Meanwhile, the number of confirmed deaths has risen to 2,886. In addition, 4,639 people were injured and at least 373 people are still missing. The situation is still very confusing, so it is to be feared that these figures will rise sharply. Temperatures of around 40°C are currently prevailing, which makes the search for the buried or dead very difficult and which adds a lot to the survivors who are still waiting for help.
We received photos from Mandalay. They come from the rescue teams that CTUM finances. We were asked to make the persons unrecognizable for security reasons. Nevertheless, the photo gives an impression of the current working conditions. FEMNET was asked to donate the cost of gasoline, strong work lights, machines such as metal circular saws.
Photos: © CTUM