On 28 March 2025, a powerful earthquake hit central Myanmar, killing and injuring thousands of people. Those who survived faced an immediate struggle - no shelter, no clean water, no food. The people of Myanmar were already facing the impacts of four years of civil war. As aftershocks continued and rain poured down, the scale of the need was growing.

International organisations struggled to get through because of the junta's blockades. Combined with the difficulty of reaching remote communities, some of the most vulnerable communities were being left without help.

Local peacebuilders didn't have to wait. A network of community groups - supported by Peace Direct providing €80,000 in emergency funding - moved quickly into areas that outside organisations couldn't reach. They knew the terrain. They knew the people. And they knew how to navigate the conflict in ways that no international organisation could. Drawing on years of relationships and deep local knowledge, they found ways to get food, water, medical aid, hygiene kits and blankets to the people who needed them most. These groups also helped recover and bury the dead with dignity. They sat with survivors, offering counselling to those grieving.

In Myanmar, as in so many crises, local peacebuilders are a lifeline.