Children in Myanmar are living through one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. Conflict, poverty, and the devastating earthquake of March 2025 have piled hardship upon hardship.
Save the Children has worked here since 1995, and today our response is more urgent than ever.
The situation for children in Myanmar
Even before the earthquake struck, Myanmar was already facing a crisis of enormous scale. Ongoing armed conflict since the military coup of February 2021 had pushed nearly 19.9 million people - over a third of the population - into need of humanitarian support, with 6.4 million of them children.
Education has been one of the hardest-hit sectors. According to research published by ISP-Myanmar in August 2025, roughly 7 million school-age children - more than half of Myanmar's school-age population - are now missing out on basic education. Between 2021 and 2025, school enrolment fell from 9.7 million to just 6.1 million. For children who do reach a classroom, learning gaps are severe: a 2025 Save the Children baseline assessment across seven states and regions found that only 30% of crisis-affected children demonstrated Grade 2 literacy, and just 32% met Grade 2 numeracy standards.
Children playing together at a Child Friendly Space
The earthquake of 28 March 2025
On 28 March 2025, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar - the strongest to hit the country in a century. The tremors devastated Mandalay, Sagaing, Bago and surrounding regions, killing more than 3,800 people and destroying or severely damaging more than 50,000 homes. More than 2,500 schools were damaged or destroyed.
Six months after the earthquake, 9.3 million people - around one sixth of Myanmar's population - were still in need of shelter, with almost one third of them children. For families who were already struggling, it was another devastating blow.
Real stories from Myanmar
Daw Htay* and her grandson, Phyo Lay*, going back to their house
Phyo Lay* is 11 years old. He lives with his 65-year-old grandmother in Mandalay Region after losing both parents. Before the earthquake, money was so tight that his schooling had become irregular, and eventually stopped altogether. When the earthquake struck, the pair were displaced from their home.
Through Save the Children's local partner, Phyo Lay received school supplies, clothing, and child protection support - and was able to return to school. His grandmother also received start-up capital for her small food business. "This year, he was able to return to school thanks to this support," she says. "Now, he is very happy and active, as he can go back to school, learn with other children, and play with them."
In Magway Region, Daw Nu Nu Aye* is a 29-year-old single mother earning around £18 per month as a weaver. With school supplies almost impossible to find locally, her 7-year-old daughter Ma Thae Su* was struggling in her first year at school. Through an education project, Save the Children's partner organisation provided Ma Thae Su with a student kit and access to twice-weekly Reading Clubs. "Because the project provided these materials, our household expenses have decreased, and I have more peace of mind," says Daw Nu Nu Aye*.
Ma Thae Su* and her friend going to the Reading Circle
How Save the Children is helping
Save the Children has worked in Myanmar since 1995, and our response to the 2025 earthquake was immediate. To date, we have helped more than 180,000 people, including nearly 50,000 children, across some of the worst-affected areas. We have distributed over 26,000 emergency kits, set up more than 1,000 shelters for displaced families, and created 47 child-friendly spaces where children can play and receive emotional support. We have also provided clean drinking water to over 190,000 people.
Across Myanmar, our programmes focus on four areas: child protection, education in emergencies, cash assistance for families, and healthcare. We work with and through local partner organisations, keeping communities at the heart of our response.
Our education work includes structured Reading Clubs and student kit distributions to help children continue learning despite disruption. Our research in Magway Region found that in conflict-affected and low-income communities, children face significant gaps in foundational literacy and numeracy - and that targeted community-based programmes can make a real difference.
Page last updated May 2026
*Names changed to protect identities
