The Myanmar junta has declared a temporary ceasefire amid rising casualties and desperate survival efforts following a devastating earthquake. The ceasefire aims to strengthen relief and rescue operations in the disaster-stricken country. According to a report by French news agency AFP on Wednesday, the junta announced a nationwide ceasefire in response to ongoing battles with insurgent groups.
AFP reported that last Friday’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake reduced thousands of buildings across Myanmar to rubble. The disaster has claimed nearly 3,000 lives and left thousands homeless.
The military government stated that the ceasefire would be observed nationwide from Wednesday until April 22 to facilitate relief efforts in affected areas. The decision follows similar commitments made by other armed groups engaged in Myanmar’s four-year-long civil war.
In a statement, the junta emphasized that the ceasefire was aimed at accelerating aid delivery, rebuilding infrastructure, and maintaining peace and stability.
However, the junta warned pro-democracy and ethnic armed groups against any hostile activities during the ceasefire, including attacks, sabotage, mobilization, or public gatherings. The military vowed to take appropriate action against any disruptions.
Call for Peace
On Wednesday, the junta reported that at least 2,886 people had died, and more than 4,600 had been injured due to the earthquake. Additionally, 373 people remain missing under the rubble of collapsed buildings.
The disaster has severely damaged communication networks and infrastructure, making rescue and relief operations extremely challenging. The full extent of the destruction is yet to be determined, and officials fear the death toll and damage may rise further.
Even before the earthquake, approximately 35,000 people had been displaced by the ongoing civil war. Many of these displaced individuals now face extreme food shortages, according to the United Nations.
On Tuesday night, a coalition of three of Myanmar’s strongest ethnic armed groups, known as the “Three Brotherhood Alliance,” declared a one-month ceasefire to support humanitarian relief efforts.
Prior to this announcement, another armed group, the People’s Defense Force, which took up arms against the junta following the 2021 military coup, had also declared a partial ceasefire.
The junta further stated that Myanmar’s military leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, will travel to Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday to attend a BIMSTEC summit, where he will discuss the post-earthquake situation with regional leaders.
