One year after the earthquake, recovery in Myanmar is fragile but ongoing, driven by communities rebuilding their lives with UNDP alongside them. 

One year after the earthquake, the damage across central Myanmar is still visible. Many families are living beside unsafe structures, struggling to rebuild livelihoods and access basic services amid conflict and economic strain. UNDP has been working alongside communities from the first hours of response to the long road of recovery. In this interview, Norimasa Shimomura reflects on the progress made and the needs that remain. 

Q. What stands out when visiting affected communities? 

A. What stays with you first is, on one hand, the starkness of the situation and, on the other, the strength of the people living through it. In many places, you still see families living beside unsafe buildings simply because they cannot afford to clear them. And it’s not just about damage of homes and buildings. Many people are still struggling to earn a living or access basic services, on top of conflict and displacement that were already part of daily life. The needs remain immense. In Lewe Township, for example, demolishing one unsafe building can cost around 60 million MMK (about USD 28,000) — far beyond what most families could ever shoulder. This is why UNDP is helping clear rubble and salvage materials to make rebuilding possible. What stays with me most, though, is people’s determination. Markets are reopening, schools and health centres are gradually coming back into service, small businesses are starting to operate again, and people are finding work and planning for the future. But this is only the start. The needs remain immense, and meeting them will require sustained commitment and partnership. 

Q. How is UNDP supporting families as they rebuild their lives? 

A. We start with safety. In this same Lewe Township, for example, UNDP supported the demolition of severely damaged buildings and removed more than 570 tons of debris. That work reopened a key road used by about 6,000 people to reach the local market. We also help families recover what they can from damaged homes—bricks, wood, and metal—so rebuilding is more affordable. Another problem is paperwork and legal support. When homes collapse, people often lose their property papers as well. Without proof that a house or land is theirs or they were renting, families cannot rebuild or access support. Likewise for those with access to some sort of insurance. UNDP helps people replace those documents. Recovering public spaces is key. We have cleared nearly 80,000 tons of debris in most cases with community members receiving salaries to do so. It’s only a fraction of what remains, but each cleared space makes daily life safer and helps communities begin to move forward again. And those incomes helps their families to survive. 

Q. How do Myanmar’s many crises shape recovery and resilience? 

A. They make recovery much harder. The earthquake hit a country already dealing with conflict, displacement, and economic stress. More than 3.6 million people had already been displaced, and around 20 million needed humanitarian support. That means rebuilding happens under constant strain like access changes, costs rise, and families are trying to recover while still coping with insecurity and loss. And yet, communities keep going. In a village north of Mandalay, people rebuilt their damaged water system together while creating paid work for the new neighbours who had moved there as they were escaping from conflict. That solidarity is what keeps recovery moving forward and makes our work as UNDP more rewarding 

Q. What progress has been made over the past year—and what comes next? 

A. There has been real progress. Thousands of families now live in safer homes. UNDP has helped repair or rebuild nearly 2,000 houses, and work is underway on 9,500 more. Large volumes of debris have been cleared, roads reopened, and water systems repaired so people can move safely and access basic services again. Recovery has also meant helping people get back to work. Through cash-for-work and livelihood support, thousands have earned income and begun rebuilding their lives. And this is only the start. In the year ahead, UNDP plans to scale up—clearing much more debris, restoring community infrastructure, expanding livelihoods support, and help restart businesses.