Daw Yin May was standing barefoot in ankle-deep water when the ground began to tremble. Her hands were still buried in the fertile soil of the floating gardens, tending to the young tomato plants. Then the lake’s surface began to ripple and tilt. When she looked up, she saw houses in the distance collapsing – one after another, as if they were made just out of flimsy cards. “My sisters were only able to save themselves by jumping into the water,” she says. “It was pure luck that they weren’t crushed by the rubble.”
Daw Yin May belongs to the Intha, the “children of the lake”, who live on the idyllic Inle Lake, the second largest in the country. Their houses stand on stilts rising above the water. They earn their living from the harvest of the floating gardens and fishing. This has been the way for generations. A life of few possessions, but within a community bound together by a keen sense of solidarity.
The earthquake that changed everything
The disastrous earthquake struck Daw Yin May on 28 March 2025, at around 12:50 p.m. At a magnitude of 7.7, it was one of the strongest earthquakes in Myanmar’s history. Six regions declared a state of emergency; thousands of people died, bridges and buildings collapsed. More than 17 million people were directly affected.
Daw Yin May was able to save her life. But all her belongings perished. “We lost everything,” she said. Clothes, furniture, cooking utensils and her food supplies. The survivors shared what little food was still available. “The solidarity was incredible,” highlights Daw Yin May. After a few days, the first aid deliveries arrived. “Rice, oil, clothing, eggs, water buckets and kitchen utensils – that helped us get through the first few months.”
Daw Shwe Khaing also has not been able to forget the memory of the disaster. The seamstress was working with her colleagues in the factory when the ground began to shake. When the tremors subsided for a brief moment, they ran out into the street. She could not work for a long time afterwards – though the widow is her family’s only source of income.
“Without the aid deliveries, we wouldn’t have known how to get through the subsequent period.”
Rapid emergency aid – thanks to an established network
SWISSAID has been active in Myanmar since 1992. Since 2001, it has been working with its own team on the ground, maintaining close partnerships with other organisations in various regions. This long-standing network proved to be crucial during the crisis. “It enabled us to reach remote areas quickly, understand local dynamics and provide culturally and contextually appropriate support,” emphasises Kamam Zau Hkam, Country Representative of SWISSAID Myanmar.
One area in focus was the Inle region, where around 80 per cent of the buildings were destroyed or severely damaged. The region was in ruins once more after already having been hit by severe flooding the year before.
As is customary in acute emergency situations, SWISSAID provided cash so that people could buy essential goods themselves. At the same time, food and material for emergency shelters, such as tarpaulins, corrugated iron sheets, and blankets were brought to and distributed in the areas hardest hit by the earthquake.
Your support is making an impact
12'237 families
were reached through three emergency aid rounds carried out in collaboration with five local partner organisations.
6235 households
received food parcels immediately after the devastating earthquake.
1959 families
were provided with tents, and 461 households received financial assistance to rebuild their homes.
A makeshift life
The measures ensured survival in the first few weeks. But what followed – and continues to this day – is the tough mission reconstruction. “The most urgent needs include the construction of robust housing, support in taking up employment again, measures to ensure food security, and access to health services,” says Kamam Zau Hkam. “We also want to improve the hygiene situation and provide targeted support to older people, women, children, and displaced families. Many also need psychosocial support to deal with trauma.”
Daw Yin May is determined to carry on: her goal is to resume tomato cultivation. Before the earthquake, the family was able to make a living from it. Today, however, the costs of maintaining and preparing the floating islands are too high, and all expenses have risen sharply. SWISSAID’s partner organisations are supporting the family with procuring resources. But there is still a long way to go. Yet, Daw Yin May remains positive: “We may not have much,” she says, “but we are rich in love.”
For Daw Shwe Khaing, too, living feels more like surviving to this day. Her house has still not been repaired, and renewed flooding has delayed the delivery of building materials. But she continues her work. “Every stitch I sew, every finished garment means school fees, books, and food on the table. I’m afraid of another earthquake – but I can’t give up for my children’s sake!”
