Waste May Be Overlooked, But It’s a Serious Risk

One month ago, communities faced devastating losses due to a powerful earthquake, lives, homes, and livelihoods were all affected. Many families, having lost their houses, live in temporary shelters.

In response, the Prevent Plastics+ team and Thant Myanmar collaborated to visit earthquake-affected areas, including Mandalay. The initial goal was to understand how waste is being managed in temporary camps and offer practical, sustainable solutions where needed.

Thanks to the connection made by youth from the Myanmar-EU EmpowermenT (MEETup), the team first visited Bone Oe Village in Amarapura Township. This village, home to over 3,500 households and over 10,000 people, has three temporary shelter camps. In two of these camps (East and Central), the team helped construct waste collection pits and supported the repair of the village’s waste collection truck to get back on track with the waste management.

Beyond infrastructure, the team also created moments of joy and healing by organising football games and art sessions for children supported by Aung Clinic Mental Health Initiative, helping them momentarily forget the trauma and simply enjoy being kids again.

While waste management may not be seen as a top priority in emergency response, it is a critical component that must be addressed. Poor waste handling can lead to health risks and environmental damage, especially in densely populated temporary shelters.

#TeamEurope continues to support environmental protection efforts in Myanmar, working hand-in-hand with local communities to build resilience and sustainability.