CADIS International activates rapid response to Myanmar earthquake

CADIS International, in collaboration with CADIS Thailand, CTF India, St John's Medical College and Mission Calcutta, is preparing a rapid response team to assist survivors of the most devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, with its epicenter in Sagaing, causing a fault line of over 200 km. 

The tremors were felt as far as Thailand and China, but no serious damage was reported. The priority response was given to Myanmar. 

To date, the number of victims has exceeded 2,700 and the death toll is expected to rise in the coming hours, according to Myanmar army chief Min Aung Hlaing.

Traumatized survivors slept in the streets near the epicenter in the devastated cities of Mandalay and Sagaing, while the stench of bodies buried under the rubble filled the area. Food, medicine, and water are lacking and the monsoon season could arrive in May.

In collaboration with the Church of Myanmar and Caritas Myanmar (Karuna Mission Social Solidarity - KMSS), during a meeting organized by Caritas Asia attended by Father Rocco Sriprasert, MI, director of CADIS Thailand and Caritas Thailand, a field assessment of the situation was presented. Further information is expected within this week, as the KMSS team is already at the epicenter and its surroundings: Mandalay, Sagaing, Naypyidaw, Southern Shan, and Bago.
 

KMSS, through Fr. Rocco Sriprasert, will be CADIS's link with the territory to begin planning the initial intervention. Survivors need temporary shelters, canned food, water, and medicines. The political situation also makes it difficult for humanitarian organizations that need to speed up their response.

During an online meeting convened by CADIS on April 1, its members from Thailand, India and partners - St John's Medical College and Mission Calcutta - discussed possible intervention, the creation of local contacts and the fundraising campaign. 

As reported by Fr. Rocco, MI, at the moment the biggest obstacle is reaching the affected areas. In addition, according to government protocols, foreign volunteers and organizations have not yet received the green light to enter the country. However, the Catholic Church is facilitating the issue so that aid arrives easily and is facilitated. CADIS Thailand is at the forefront in preparing a possible joint CADIS intervention. The possibility of creating a network with the Myanmar government to mobilize disaster response teams and collaborate with medical and nursing teams to provide specific medical needs was also discussed.

While waiting for more concrete information from the field through our local partners, a CADIS fundraising campaign has been launched to support the immediate needs of survivors. We are in constant contact with Caritas Thailand, Myanmar and local churches for daily updates and will soon begin with an emergency intervention.

You can help us organize aid for earthquake survivors by donating to the CADIS International Emergency Fund: 

Recipient: CAMILLIAN DISASTER SERVICE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
Reason: Myanmar Earthquake
 

CC: INTESA SANPAOLO s.p.a.
IBAN: IT19G0306909606100000144767
BIC/SWIFT Code: BCITITMMXXX    
or
CC: Banca Popolare di Sondrio
IBAN: IT03 M056 9603 2350 0000 3570 X95
BIC/SWIFT Code: POSOIT22

You can also support us through Paypal at the following link: 
https://www.cadisinternational.org/come-puoi-aiutarci-dona-ora