“After the earthquake took my husband and destroyed my home, I felt completely hopeless. I would sit in front of the ruins, not knowing how to start again. When the debris was cleared, it felt like the first light after a long darkness.”
— Kyu Kyu Myint, 67-year-old woman in Sagaing.
People in need, targeted, prioritized and severity by location
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
Source OCHANeeds
The March 2025 earthquake caused extensive destruction across central and northern Myanmar, damaging homes, public buildings, roads and infrastructure. The Early Recovery Cluster estimates that over 1.2 million people need support for debris removal, recycling and safe waste management to restore living conditions and enable recovery. Needs will remain high through 2026 due to the scale of destruction, debris volume and limited national capacity for waste management. While communities have undertaken most clearance, more than 450,000 metric tonnes of debris still requires organized clearance and recycling.
Key drivers include massive debris accumulation, blocked transport routes, overwhelmed municipal waste systems, and public health risks from unmanaged rubble. Safe, inclusive livelihood opportunities are also needed during recovery.
Top areas with highest needs: Mandalay (urban damage and debris), Sagaing (collapsed infrastructure), eastern Bago and Nay Pyi Taw (urban damage and waste system overload), and southern Shan (rural areas with access challenges). These locations have the highest concentration of people requiring debris clearance, recycling and waste management.
Response
Early recovery is essential to restore access, facilitate reconstruction and prevent health and environmental risks. The main focus areas for early recovery include:
- Safe removal of debris. Clearing earthquake debris to restore access, enable reconstruction and reduce safety risks.
- Recycling of debris. Promoting environmentally sound recycling and reuse of debris materials to support local livelihoods and sustainable recovery.
- Removal of waste. Supporting community-level solid waste collection and disposal to improve living conditions and enable the restoration of essential public services.
Targeting prioritizes townships with severe damage and critical debris needs, focusing on affected households, local clearance workers and communities needing waste services. Delivery modalities include in-kind support (tools, safety gear, machinery), service contracts and community grants for debris collection and recycling, and remote modalities for monitoring and coordination. The approach promotes organized debris clearance and waste collection while stimulating local markets. Localization is key: community-based organizations will identify debris hotspots, organize clean-ups and ensure culturally appropriate disposal, supported through technical assistance and small grants. Inter-cluster collaboration ensures alignment with the Health, Protection, Shelter, and WASH Clusters. Protection and safety standards, including gender-sensitive participation, are mainstreamed throughout.
Monitoring
Progress will be tracked through quarterly partner 4Ws, cluster dashboards and verification missions. Indicators include square metres of debris cleared, volume of material recycled, and the number of communities where waste services have been restored. Partner reports will be validated through cross-checking, geospatial data and on-site verification.
The Cluster will conduct training for local partners on safe debris management, recycling techniques, waste segregation, environmental protection and digital reporting. Simplified reporting templates will facilitate the participation of local NGOs and municipalities, improving the accuracy and timeliness of information.
People in need, targeted and prioritized breakdown
People in Need
People Targeted
People Prioritized
Early Recovery Cluster Strategy:
https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/humanitarian-needs-and-response-pl…