Two months after the devastating earthquake that hit central Myanmar on March 28, one of the country’s most important spiritual centres remains in ruins.
The communities of the Sagaing Hills, west of Mandalay, are still facing overwhelming challenges. Home to hundreds of Buddhist monasteries and nunneries, this revered landscape is marked by collapse and uncertainty.
Sacred not only to the people of Myanmar, but also known globally as a major centre of the mindfulness movement, the region is strewn with ruined stupas and fractured religious building. Many of its monastics still lack proper shelter.
In the Sagaing Valley below, monks and nuns who could once rely on daily alms from the devout now struggle to survive, as their lay supporters contend with a lack of basic necessities. As the region enters the rainy season, there is a growing urgency to find somewhere safe and dry to live through the wet months ahead.
In Sagaing city, families have patched their damaged homes with sheets of corrugated metal, but the makeshift roofs offer little protection from the relentless monsoon. The cost and scarcity of construction materials make even basic repairs impossible for most.
Displacement camps still shelter thousands who lost their homes—and their sense of security. Despite ongoing international aid, long-term recovery remains elusive. For many, life in these temporary shelters is the only option, with no clear future in sight.
According to the latest figures released by the military junta, the earthquake killed 3,739 people, left 68 missing, injured 5,104 and affected more than half a million. The total estimated financial loss now stands at 3.8 trillion kyat, or US$860 million.
