The APTERR Secretariat, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (DOA), Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation of Myanmar, conducted a field visit to earthquake-affected communities around Inle Lake and the DOA Regional Office in southern Shan State to monitor and evaluate the response efforts and assess community resilience following the devastating earthquakes that struck Myanmar in March 2025.
Led by Mr. Toe Min, Director of Rice Division, DOA, and Dr. Choomjet Karnjanakesorn, General Manager of the APTERR Secretariat, the team met with the beneficiaries of APTERR rice assistance to discuss their recovery progress and remaining challenges. Most people in the affected areas depend on fishing and floating agriculture for their livelihoods. Although several months have passed since the earthquake, many communities continue to face significant challenges, as houses and floating farms were severely damaged. While a number of houses have already reconstructed, the recovery of floating farms requires additional times and sustained support from the government and international partners, including APTERR. Full recovery is expected to extend into next year.
Under the first release of APTERR emergency rice assistance, a total of 3,500 MT was contributed by the Republic of Korea (3,000 MT) and the People’s Republic of China (P.R. China) (500 MT) to support earthquake-affected communities in Myanmar. Of this amount, 175-MT rice from Korea was immediately distributed to more than 20,000 affected people in Shan State. The timely rice assistance played a crucial role in supporting early recovery and strengthening community resilience. The beneficiaries expressed their deep appreciation and gratitude for the rice assistance received.
During the visit, the APTERR Secretariat and the DOA reaffirmed their commitment to continued assistance to Shan State. A further 200-MT rice from Korea will be provided under the additional 3,275-MT rice assistance jointly contributed by Korea (3,000 MT) and P.R. China (275 MT), with distribution scheduled to begin early next year. This additional assistance will help ensure food security for affected communities as they continue their recovery process.
In addition, the APTERR Secretariat held a meeting with the DOA Regional Office to receive updates on the distribution of APTERR rice assistance. The DOA Regional Office has been working closely with the Shan State Government to ensure that the APTERR rice assistance has been delivered to affected people in a timely efficient and effective manner.
A total of 6,775 MT of APTERR rice assistance, contributed by Korea (6,000 MT) and P.R. China (775 MT), has been provided to over a hundred thousand earthquake-affected people in Myanmar, enhancing food security and supporting their recovery efforts.
