Emergency Appeal: Support Earthquake Relief for Myanmar and Thailand

Dear Friends,

Since my email on Friday, many of you have already sent donations, and we are deeply grateful for your quick and generous response. Your support is already making a difference during this critical time.

The devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand on Thursday caused widespread destruction and left huge numbers of people in urgent need of assistance. Our partners on the ground are reporting catastrophic damage, with homes, schools, and essential infrastructure reduced to rubble. Families are facing immense challenges as they struggle to access shelter, medical care, clean water, and basic necessities. The death toll is now well over 1,500 and still rising.

Ethical Aid Delivery

It is critical that much-needed relief funds are delivered through local networks and not the Myanmar junta, which continued to carry out lethal airstrikes on civilians in the hours immediately following the earthquake, particularly in conflict-torn Shan State and Sagaing Region. In addition to being the primary perpetrator of rights abuses, the junta has also long weaponized international humanitarian assistance, allowing it only to be distributed in the areas it controls. “The junta cannot be allowed to control the flow of aid,” a Friday editorial in The Guardian explained. “By doing so, it could use the disaster to intensify its hold on power and the suffering of its opponents among the people of Myanmar.” This is one of the many reasons why Partners Asia continues to be committed to channeling support only through established local groups and their supporters, and we encourage all donors to do the same.

Our Response

Partners Asia is working closely with our trusted grassroots partners to assess the most pressing needs as they start to deliver immediate support. We typically respond to requests for emergency funding from our partners within 48 hours, ensuring that help reaches communities as quickly as possible. Your contribution will enable us to:

• Provide emergency shelter and essential supplies to those who have lost their homes
• Support medical care for the injured and vulnerable
• Ensure access to clean water, food, and hygiene essentials
• Help communities rebuild and recover in the weeks and months ahead

How You Can Help

Your donation today will directly support the relief efforts of Partners Asia’s partners on the ground who know their communities best, have access to affected populations, and are already mobilizing. We promise that every dollar raised will be used to support those impacted by this crisis, helping families and communities survive and rebuild after this tragedy.

Please know that your solidarity in this critical moment will bring hope and relief to those who need it most. In a time when so many of us feel the weight of division and weariness, responding to this crisis reminds me of our shared humanity and compassion—qualities that we cannot take for granted in today’s world. Please stand with us as we support the resilience and strength of communities impacted by this disaster.