Myanmar and Thailand Earthquake Appeal
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar on Friday, March 28th, the strongest the country has ever recorded. Tremors were felt throughout the region, as far away as Thailand and China.
As of April 1st, the death toll has risen to over 2,000, with thousands more injured and in urgent need of food, shelter, clean water and medical assistance.
Rev Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia has shared a pastoral statement in response to the devastating earthquake.
“We join with the global community in mourning. We lament the loss of life and the destruction of homes, schools, hospitals, and churches. We are deeply concerned for those who remain buried beneath collapsed buildings, and we give thanks for the courageous search and rescue workers who are risking everything to find survivors. Their persistence is a beacon of hope.
The devastating effects of this earthquake will be felt deeply by this vulnerable part of the world, which continues to suffer from ongoing civil war and is without the resources to respond effectively to disaster. We are encouraged by the rapid response from the international community. Nations including China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Russia, to name a few have sent aid and resources. These signs of solidarity remind us that love and compassion transcend borders.
In this season of Lent, we remember that God is close to the brokenhearted. May we be vessels of that compassion—through our prayers, our offerings, and our care for our neighbours in Myanmar and Thailand. In this spirit, I encourage all Uniting Church communities to hold the people of Myanmar and Thailand in prayer, and to consider giving generously through trusted relief partners.”
Want to help?
UnitingWorld is working through our membership in the ACT Alliance, a global Christian humanitarian coalition, to resource a coordinated response.
Your donations will provide lifesaving aid to those hit hardest by the earthquake and help distribute urgent necessities such as food, water, shelter and medical aid to the people most impacted.
Donate now!
Make an online donation here or call 1800 998 122 (9am – 5pm)
Pray for Myanmar and Thailand
“Rev Charissa Suli has shared a prayer for those affected by the earthquake.
Loving and faithful God,
You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble.
Today we lift before you the people of Myanmar and Thailand,
those who mourn, those still waiting for news,
and those working around the clock to save lives in the midst of devastation.
We grieve the lives lost and the homes destroyed.
We pray for the injured, the displaced, and the traumatised.
Be their shelter in the storm, their light in the darkness, and their peace in the chaos.
We give thanks for the hands and hearts offering help—
for the emergency workers, medical teams, neighbours, and leaders
responding with courage and care.
We are grateful for nations who have extended help and support.
Bless their generosity and multiply the impact of every effort.
God of all peoples,
bind us together across oceans and cultures.
As members of your global Church, may we be a witness to your love in action.
Move our hearts to give, to pray, and to stand alongside our neighbours in need.
We pray all this in the name of Christ,
our hope and our healer.
Amen.