A devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on 28 March, causing widespread destruction and displacing thousands.

Homes, hospitals, and vital infrastructure have been severely damaged, leaving many without access to basic necessities.

While estimates indicate that up to 20 million people may be affected by the earthquakes, women and girls – who already made up more than half of the 10 million people in urgent need of aid before the disaster – face mounting challenges.

More than 100,000 pregnant women have been caught up in the chaos across central Myanmar, with 12,250 expected to give birth in April, reports UN News.

The destruction of health facilities and damage to roads and bridges have cut off access to essential reproductive health services, endangering pregnant women and survivors of gender-based violence who rely on medical support.

Prior to the earthquakes, women and girls in Myanmar were already facing significant mental health stress due to prolonged conflict, political instability, and economic challenges. The disaster has deepened this stress, said UN agencies.

As emergency aid trickles in, women and girls who were already vulnerable, now face even greater risks from gender-based violence and exploitation, according to a UN-led coalition responding to the crisis.

The coalition, formally called the Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group, is co-led by UN Women and the UN reproductive health agency (UNFPA).

UN relief chief Tom Fletcher, meanwhile, has issued an urgent appeal for increased funding to support the aid effort, warning that access to survivors is severely constrained.