Myanmar’s powerful earthquake damaged markets, storage facilities, and wholesale centers across Mandalay and other major cities, but supplies of essentials like rice and oil remain stable. The immediate concern is shelter, as collapsed buildings have left thousands homeless.
Sources told Myanmar Now this week that it is becoming increasingly difficult in towns across Upper Myanmar to find safe, secure housing as so much property has been destroyed or deemed unsafe.
“Since the harvest has just ended, food isn’t a problem,” one source from Mandalay said. “The real concern is shelter. Many buildings have been destroyed, and with cement prices so high, reconstruction will be a major challenge.”
While the Yangon-Mandalay Highway was damaged in the earthquake, alternative routes through Meiktila or Shan State remain largely unaffected. These secondary roads have ensured a steady flow of fresh produce and essential goods into Mandalay, according to local business people operating in the city.
“Rice and oil availability remains stable, and stores are open as usual,” one merchant told Myanmar Now. “Rice shops are seeing higher sales as people are purchasing rice to donate as well. Wholesale shop owners are also contributing by offering discounts, selling a bag of rice for cheaper prices than normal.”
Zay Cho Taw, a famous market in Mandalay, was damaged during the earthquake. And although many shops have closed, food can still be easily purchased across Mandalay Township.
The Sagaing Bridge remains open, keeping food supplies moving between Mandalay and Sagaing after the Irrawaddy Bridge collapsed. In Mandalay City, rescue efforts ended ten days after the quake, with crews now focused on clearing debris, residents said.
In the days following the disaster, central Myanmar has experienced extensive damage to residential homes, government buildings, staff housing, schools, monasteries, hospitals, religious and historical sites.
Hundreds of buildings across central Myanmar have been reduced to rubble, but many more remain standing with severe structural damage. These homes are no longer safe to live in, forcing residents to abandon them. The looming threat of aftershocks is only deepening the sense of fear and uncertainty.
Thousands are likely displaced after their homes were destroyed, now living in temporary tents or rescue shelters. Some are fortunate enough to stay with relatives whose homes sustained less damage.
A representative of the Wundwin Township Charity Network, a group that helps citizens affected by fires, floods, and other natural disasters, told Myanmar Now that more than 50 people were injured or killed during the quake. He noted that several buildings, including textile and garment factories and residential homes, were destroyed during the earthquake in Wundwin Town, Mandalay Region.
“Before the earthquake, a bag of cement cost around 15,000 MMK ($7 US dollars), but now we can’t even find cement for around 30,000 MMK ($14 US dollars),” he said.
“It’s been very challenging. With the earthquake affecting the entire country and causing widespread damage, the daily wage for construction workers has risen from 10,000 MMK ($5 US dollars) to about 25,000 MMK ($12 US dollars).”
Key junta buildings in Naypyitaw, including ministries, parliamentary offices, and the junta’s cyber centre were damaged in the quake. Hundreds of apartments and homes belonging to junta officials have also been damaged.
Naypyitaw residents told Myanmar Now that many junta officials are now living in makeshift conditions.
The junta announced on Tuesday that repairs will prioritise government offices to ensure operations resume by the end of this month. Damages will be assessed and categorised based on severity into three levels: red, orange, and blue.
The statement also noted that engineering teams will assess the damaged staff housing, and plans will be made to provide temporary tents for staff families as soon as possible, with necessary provisions for water, electricity, and sanitation.
On April 5, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) estimated that around 17 million people in 60 of Myanmar’s 330 townships were affected by the earthquake.
According to a UNOCHA statement, millions of people in the regions hardest hit by the earthquake face power outages, shortages of drinking water and food, and lack access to healthcare.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned on January 29 that even before the earthquake, food insecurity was a growing crisis in conflict-hit areas of Myanmar. It estimates that 15 million people could face hunger in 2025, largely due to the ongoing fallout from the military coup.
