Resilience Against the Odds: Daw Soe Soe’s Story, Myanmar

Her two-and-a-half-story home, once filled with the laughter of her seven children, five sons and two daughters, and the steady presence of her husband, collapsed without warning when the devastating earthquake struck on 28^th March. It was the largest in over a century in Myanmar. The day had begun like any other, with Daw Soe Soe preparing a meal for her family. But as the ground shook and buildings began to crumbl, fear gripped her heart- not for herself, but for her children.

“I saw in front of my eyes about 17 people buried when their house collapsed while they were celebrating a birthday with kids and guests,” she recalls, tears falling. “At that moment, I realized that we couldn’t risk staying in our house any longer, so I called to my son to get out – he was asleep. We ran to the monastery compound.”

Amid the chaos, Daw Soe Soe’s instincts and quick action saved her family. She called out to each of her children, urging them to flee. Her husband, 60 years old, alerted their pregnant daughter, who would give birth just two days later. They escaped with nothing but their lives, leaving behind their home and all their possessions.  “We just managed to escape but could bring nothing. When we ran on the street, we saw more people injured by collapsed buildings who couldn’t be dug out.”  

Their house now stands in ruins. Cooking is impossible. The family sleeps in a monastery, borrowing mats from a kind monk and leaving the tents for those in even greater need.  

Daw Soe Soe is 53 years old and suffers from diabetes and hypertension. “We are now eating food from assistance, from donors. We never thought we would have to rely on other people’s donations to live. We have to restart from nothing.”

Daw Soe Soe’s story is one of profound loss, but also of resilience. Before the earthquake, she worked various jobs to support her children through school. Some of them consequently found work and together they built their home- brick by brick, with love and sacrifice. Now, work has stopped but debts remain, but the family is together, sustained by the generosity of neighbours and donors, and the hope that comes from being surrounded by those who care.

“We left the tents for other people who have nothing. And we live in this monastery,” she says. “Our neighbours gave us some extra food boxes they had. I didn’t eat - I fed my children.”

At Medair, we believe that hope is found in community, in the hands that reach out when all seems lost. Daw Soe Soe’s courage and her family’s unity remind us that, even in the darkest times, we can come together for life and hope. Her story is not just one of survival, but of the strength that comes from standing together-neighbours, donors, and families- restoring dignity and rebuilding lives, one day at a time.

Along with partners, we are helping the most affected families to meet a range of urgent needs. Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) in the humanitarian sector is a form of aid that provides crisis-affected individuals with cash or vouchers, rather than goods. This approach empowers people to flexibly address their specific needs—such as food, medicine, and shelter—quickly and effectively, saving lives in a dignified way. We are also offering Psychological First Aid to help individuals cope with the trauma and loss caused by the earthquake. Our aim is to address both the physical and emotional needs of the most affected communities in this response.

Daw Soe Soe’s journey is far from over, but she is not alone.

Be Part of the Change

Your support can help extend this life-changing impact to more vulnerable people in Myanmar. Together, we can bring health, hope, and a brighter future to children and families in Myanmar. With our dedicated local partner, Medair has supported 2,639 households — reaching approximately 11.083 people in Myanmar.

Donate today and make a difference.

This content was produced using resources gathered by ZOA, an NGO in the Netherlands that is in partnership with Integral Alliance.  The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.