- April 1, 2025
- Posted by: humanitarianweb
- Category: Humanitarian News
Zaw Thet* is a Save the Children staff member based in Myanmar. Amy Sawitta Lefevre is a Media Manager for Save the Children based in Bangkok. She has lived in Thailand for more than a decade.
By Zaw Thet* and Amy Sawitta Lefevre, Save the Children staff members
BANGKOK/YANGON, 1 April 2025 – It’s hard to know what to tell your children left terrified after experiencing an earthquake, yet this is the discussion that parents across Myanmar and Thailand are now facing.
My children, aged 6 and 8, were at school in Bangkok when the 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit neighboring Myanmar on 28 March. It was so powerful that it shook the Thai capital more than 620 miles (1,000 km) from the earthquake’s epicentre. It felt like I was standing on a boat sailing on rough seas, and I could feel the building I was in swaying.
My children had done many fire drills at their school, but they’ve never done an earthquake drill. Earthquakes are simply not something we have had to live with here in recent memory and this was the first time they had experienced anything like it.
The teachers sprang into action and the children were evacuated from their school and gathered in the school’s open field. They shared that they were scared and played games to calm themselves down and, once it was safe to do so. They were sent home on a school bus.
Days later, all they want to do is talk about earthquakes and what to do in the event of another one. They told me that they they’re scared of another earthquake and what we would do if another one hits. They are scared and want answers. They have me and my husband to talk to them and reassure them. Our home is fine. Our friends are fine. Life continues.
But for thousands of children in Myanmar it is a different story.
My colleague Zaw Thet*, 38, a staff member for Save the Children in Myanmar, was driving along a highway when the earthquake hit. He had to quickly pull over to the side of the road but managed to resume his journey.
He said that on the highway, dozens of buses were stranded. Many had children on board. When the earthquake struck, the children didn’t understand what was happening. When a second tremor hit, they screamed and cried in fear. Some even vomited from shock.
Right now, children in Myanmar need shelter, food, and water. But in the long term, they will need emotional support to heal from this disaster.
Save the Children – which has been working in Myanmar since 1995 – and our partners are providing lifesaving aid in earthquake affected areas in Myanmar with an immediate need for water, food and health care services for children and their families.
More than 2,000 people have been confirmed to have died in the earthquake across Myanmar and more than 3,400 have sustained injuries [1] with the numbers continuing to rise. In Thailand, at least 20 people have died and several buildings across Bangkok have been deemed unsafe to return to with cracks and major structural damage clearly visible.[2]
But beyond the short-term children will need support to come to terms with what they experienced and for some, what they have seen amid the devastation in Myanmar.
Experts at Save the Children involved with psychosocial support advise parents to let their children know that an earthquake is a natural event and not anyone’s fault. Families need an emergency plan in place in case of a recurrence to reassure their children that they will be safe.
Other advice includes to drop to the ground and take cover under something sturdy like a desk or table if you feel an earthquake or, if you’re outside, the safest place is a clear and open space away from buildings, trees, streetlights and power lines.
My children ask me every night now if our emergency bag is ready by the front door. Hopefully now they’ll know what to do and feel a little more reassured and prepared.
ENDS
*name changed.
References:
[1] https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/myanmar-earthquake-flash-update-2-31-march-2025
For further enquiries please contact:
Amy Sawitta Lefevre: amy.lefevre@savethechildren.org
Rachel Thompson: rachel.thompson@savethechildren.org
Our media out of hours (BST) contact is media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409