This weekend, we were shocked to wake up to the news of the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand. We were immediately concerned for the 40 children at Little Stars Children’s Home, one of the projects that we sponsor located at the epicenter of the disaster. Initial attempts to contact the project director were unsuccessful, but we finally got through.
We were amazed to learn that while their building received severe damage, it had not collapsed like many of the buildings around them had. Terrified that the building might not stand if a big enough aftershock hit, the children fled outside into their parking lot for safety, fearful to go back in to the home.
“By the grace of God, our building stood while others fell,” the project director told us when we finally reached him. “Our kids are safe but shaken.”
Finding Safety Amid Chaos
Initially, the children tried sleeping in the parking lot, but this proved unsafe with mosquitoes biting them constantly. The team then moved everyone to the ground-floor garage where sliding doors offered quick escape during aftershocks.
But the situation has worsened. An engineer inspected the building and delivered sobering news: the structure is too dangerous to occupy. “After inspecting the fractures and the cracks, he said that we are not allowed to live underneath the house,” the project director shared. “It is much safer to stay away from the home until the aftershocks are over.”
Now the children are sleeping by the street outside the house, completely exposed to the elements. “That’s really affecting my health,” the project director admits, “but there are no other ways to get through this.” The team is now working to erect a basic shelter in an open field where the children and staff can stay safely away from damaged buildings.
The danger remains very real. Just yesterday, a powerful 6.6 magnitude aftershock struck the region—itself a serious earthquake. These intense aftershocks continue to threaten buildings already weakened by the initial quake.
The engineer believes the building can eventually be strengthened and remodeled, making it safe for the children to return—but this will take time and resources.
A Region in Crisis
The impact of this earthquake extends far beyond Little Stars. Half of Mandalay’s buildings now lie severely damaged or destroyed. The project director reports that many people in the city are living in the streets, their homes too dangerous to occupy.
The death toll has reached a devastating 1,790 in Mandalay alone, with more than 1,000 still missing.
This disaster has compounded an already dire situation in Myanmar—19.9 million people were already in need of assistance, 15 million facing food insecurity, and 3.5 million internally displaced people in the country.
Hospitals are overwhelmed, with critical shortages of trauma kits, blood bags, and anesthetics. The widespread damage has made delivering aid extraordinarily difficult.
How You Can Help These Children
Little Stars has long been a beacon of hope, providing love, stability, education, and opportunities to children affected by poverty, disease, and conflict. Many of these children have already overcome tremendous obstacles in their young lives. Now they face another.
We need to act quickly to:
- Fund immediate temporary shelter in an open field for the children now sleeping on the street
- Provide food, water, and medicine for these displaced children
- Begin planning for building repairs once aftershocks subside
- Support the children through the emotional trauma they’ve experienced
While international organizations are mobilizing, our established partnership with Little Stars means your support can reach these children directly.
While international organizations are mobilizing, our established partnership with Little Stars means your support can reach these children directly.
Stand With These Children Today
In the midst of this tragedy, the survival of these 40 children is nothing short of miraculous. Their resilience inspires us, but they need our help to recover.
Please pray for:
- The physical and emotional healing of the children
- A safe temporary shelter to be erected quickly
- Protection during ongoing aftershocks
- Wisdom for the team as they navigate this crisis
- The thousands of families affected by this disaster
