Myanmar Earthquake: Thousands forced to live on small boats after homes collapse into Inle Lake

Thousands of people in Myanmar’s Inle Lake region have been left homeless and stranded on small boats after the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck on Friday, submerging entire floating villages and claiming countless lives. 

The devastation is widespread. ActionAid warned that families who once lived in Inle’s picturesque stilted homes now have nowhere to go, forced to sleep in the open on boats, exposed to extreme heat, unsafe water, and worsening sanitary conditions.  

ActionAid is supporting local organisations in Inle, Mandalay and Sagaing to deliver food, water and emergency supplies to families.  

Jagat Patnaik, ActionAid’s Head of Asia Region, said:  

“What we are hearing from the organisations we support in Inle Lake is devastating. The scale of the destruction has left even the most seasoned responders shocked. 

“Inle Lake, once a thriving tourist destination, is now a disaster zone. Entire families are crammed onto tiny boats with no protection from the blistering heat and no access to toilets, safe drinking water or medical care.  

“For women and girls, the situation is even more difficult. They have no access to period products, and in a society where menstruation is heavily stigmatised, having to manage their periods whilst living on boats in close quarters with men is deeply distressing and isolating. 

 “Humanitarian teams are doing everything they can to get clean water, food, sanitary products and medical treatment to people who have lost their homes, but delivering supplies to people stranded on the water is an enormous challenge. The Monsoon rains are on their way, and without immediate funding, thousands will be left in a life-threatening position. We urgently need to get funds to organisations working in Myanmar and we urge the international community to do everything they can to support those who have lost everything.”