The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $100 million grant package from the Asian Development Fund (ADF) to deliver humanitarian assistance and strengthen long-term community resilience in Myanmar, following a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the country in March 2025.
The new funding represents ADB’s largest grant allocation for Myanmar to date and builds on a $3 million emergency relief grant disbursed in the immediate aftermath of the quake.
The disaster intensified an already fragile humanitarian situation, with the number of people in urgent need of aid rising to 6.3 million, up from 4.3 million at the beginning of the year, based on United Nations estimates.
“This $100 million aid package—ADB’s largest grant for the people of Myanmar—will deliver food, water, shelter, and medical care to families in desperate need, while also supporting long-term livelihoods, jobs, and community resilience,” said ADB President Masato Kanda. “Backed by the ADF, the aid package underscores our commitment to supporting the most vulnerable across Asia and the Pacific.”
The grant will support emergency shelter, access to clean water and sanitation, food assistance, essential health supplies, and trauma counseling.
It will also contribute to restoring education services through the repair of temporary learning spaces, the provision of teaching materials, and training programs for educators. Communities will receive both cash and in-kind transfers as part of immediate relief measures.
In addition to humanitarian aid, the package includes investments aimed at building long-term resilience.
Planned interventions include the rehabilitation of rural infrastructure such as farm roads, irrigation and drainage systems, and water supply networks.
Local households will receive training in climate change adaptation and disaster risk management to strengthen preparedness for future shocks.
The program will be delivered in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Food Programme (WFP).
ADB will draw on its expertise in agriculture, education, nutrition, and social protection, along with its operational presence in Myanmar, to ensure effective implementation.
The aid package is part of ADB’s broader commitment to supporting inclusive and sustainable development across Asia and the Pacific, particularly in conflict-affected and disaster-prone areas.
Business News Asia
