2025-04-08 – The CMAT Board of Directors wishes to thank all those volunteers who sent in their Expressions of Interest, and were standing by to respond to the devastating earthquake in Myanmar. We deeply appreciate your commitment to global humanitarian service and your readiness to deploy with CMAT on such short notice.

As of April 7, 2025, Myanmar continues to grapple with the aftermath of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck on March 28. The latest reports indicate a death toll of at least 3600, with over 5000 injured and 160 individuals still missing. OCHA, said more than 17.2 million people are living in affected areas, and urgently need food, drinking water, health care, cash assistance and emergency shelter.

CMAT’s goal was to send in a Rapid Assessment Team (RAT) to determine the feasibility of deploying a larger medical team, and determine where the need is, what that would look like, etc. Ultimately, the Rapid Assessment team was never able to enter Myanmar.

After thorough discussion, consideration and careful deliberation, CMAT leadership has made the difficult decision to stand down our Myanmar deployment at this time.

This decision was not taken lightly. It reflects the following key factors:

1. Lack of official acceptance – Despite ongoing efforts, and direct collaboration with Canadian Embassy staff in Bangkok and Yangon, CMAT did not receive any formal recognition or authorization from the current recognized authorities in Myanmar

2. Visa and border challenges – With a large wave of Western NGOs and agencies arriving and staging in Bangkok over the past 10 days, CMAT was poised to be one of the first on the ground in Yangon. Despite diplomatic intervention on CMAT’s behalf by the Canadian Embassies, our Rapid Assessment Team was turned away at the border in Yangon. Furthermore, significant delays in visa approvals made a timely attempt at re-entry unfeasible. Due to limited information leaving Myanmar, a great number of other response organiations continue to wait in Bangkok.

3. Political and security barriers – The decades-long civil war has made the operating environment in Myanmar even more volatile. With the epicentre of the earthquake located in the middle of an active conflict zone, access restrictions and elevated risks exceeded CMAT’s capacity to safely deploy and support our team of Canadian volunteers.

We recognize this may be disappointing news; please know that the leadership of CMAT, who have been working tirelessly since the onset of the disaster, is also very disappointed.

However, your readiness to serve has not gone unnoticed. The experience and lessons our organization has gained through this response – logistically, strategically, and interpersonally—will inform future missions and strengthen CMAT’s operational procedures and readiness.

We remain in close contact with regional partners, including the Canadian Embassies in both Yangon and Bangkok, and are continuing to assess where and how CMAT’s unique capabilities can be best utilized. We will keep you informed of upcoming in-person and virtual disaster training, preparedness and response opportunities.