Cash support helps earthquake-affected families return home

Above: Daw Lin Lin*, 43, is a mother of three - including three-year-old Htay Htay* - and lives in a village in Myanmar’s earthquake-affected area. During the earthquake, Daw Lin Lin's* house had completely collapsed, and the family had to live in a nearby field with other people. Later, heavy rain and flooding forced many people to return to their homes, but Daw Lin Lin* and her family couldn’t do so since their house wasn’t safe. Save the Children provided Daw Lin Lin* and her family with cash assistance of 360,000 MMK (US $90) through a local partner. She used it to repair the house so they could return home. Photo: Save the Children.

Above: Daw Lin Lin* holds her daughter Htay Htay* while doing chores at their home in Myanmar. Photo: Save the Children

Daw Lin Lin*, 43, has three children and lives in a village in a part of Myanmar affected by the March 2025 earthquake. Her husband works as a casual labourer. As Daw Lin Lin* needs to stay home to look after the children, the family depends her husband’s income. Their eldest daughter, 20, works in a wire manufacturing factory, her 11-year-old son is still in school, and her youngest daughter, Htay Htay,* is only three years old.

During the earthquake, Daw Lin Lin* was at the bazaar with her two youngest children. Suddenly the ground shook with a frightening sound. She held her children tightly while chaos unfolded around them. On the way back home, the children witnessed scenes of people crying and destroyed buildings. Both children fell ill from the shock, and her youngest grew fearful and clingy, unable to be left alone.

Reaching home, Daw Lin Lin* found their house had collapsed completely, with the ground beneath it badly cracked. With nowhere safe to stay, the family had to live in a nearby field with other people. Later, heavy rain and flooding forced many people to return to their homes, but Daw Lin Lin* and her family couldn’t as their house wasn’t safe to live in.

Above: Cash assistance helped Daw Lin Lin* and her family to repair their home after the earthquake. Photo: Save the Children

When Save the Children learnt of the family’s situation, it provided Daw Lin Lin* and her family with cash assistance of 360,000 MMK (AUD $220) through a local partner, supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership. She was happy to receive that money, and she used it to repair their house so the family could finally return home.

“After the earthquake, my husband’s work became irregular, and our livelihood became very difficult, even though before we could get by with his income,” she said. “We were very happy to receive cash support when we really needed help, and we were very grateful for it. It was a great help to us.”

For Daw Lin Lin*, this assistance arrived at the time they needed it most, providing security and relief. Although life remains difficult due to her husband’s irregular work and income, Daw Lin Lin* is determined to prioritise her children’s education. She believes it is the best legacy she can leave for them.

“All I want for my children is for them to be educated. We have nothing to give them as an inheritance except education. So, no matter how much we struggle, we try to send them to school,” she said.

Now, the family is looking to the future. Daw Lin Lin’s* eldest daughter plans to take her matriculation exam next year with her mothers’ continuous encouragement.

*Names changed