Bern, 01.04.2025 - The number of dead and injured continues to rise following the earthquake in Myanmar. The disaster has worsened an already precarious humanitarian situation, exacerbated by an armed conflict that has lasted several years. To meet these new needs, Switzerland is releasing CHF 2.5 million and is making specialists from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) available to UN agencies.

According to the latest official figures, last Friday's earthquake in Myanmar killed more than 2,000 people and injured more than 3,400, with the figures likely to rise. The destruction of land routes and communication infrastructure is complicating rescue operations.

Faced with this situation, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) of the FDFA is allocating CHF 2.5 million in aid. Of this amount, CHF 500,000 came from the cooperation office in Yangon and CHF 2 million from the SDC's emergency response funds. This sum will be used to finance humanitarian activities implemented by the UN and the SDC's local partners operating in the affected regions. The additional funding will help to provide emergency shelters, drinking water, food and emergency health services.

The SDC has also made three specialists from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) available to the UN. They will support UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) and UNDAC (United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination) in evaluating needs and identifying chemical and biological risks, as well as assessing the safety of dams following the destruction caused by the earthquake. The SDC is considering sending additional specialists to other UN organisations to support the international response to the earthquake.

A disaster in the midst of a humanitarian crisis

The earthquake has worsened an already critical humanitarian situation, with access to the affected areas still extremely limited. Before this disaster almost 20 million people in Myanmar were already dependent on humanitarian aid due to an armed conflict that has lasted several years. Switzerland's cooperation programme mobilises various instruments of development cooperation, humanitarian aid, peace promotion and human rights diplomacy.

In light of the political situation in Myanmar, Switzerland calls on the military authorities and all parties to the conflict to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid in accordance with humanitarian principles.

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication
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Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
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