Fighting persists in Myanmar despite the military junta and a rebel group alliance announcing temporary ceasefires to support post-earthquake relief efforts. The UN Human Rights office reported 14 military attacks since the ceasefire, with both sides accusing each other of breaking the truce.
The military accused two rebel groups of carrying out attacks, while one group said fighting broke out in response to “offensives” by the military. The junta’s spokesperson said they would respond to any attack on their bases without reason.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for a halt to all military operations and urged humanitarian aid to focus on assisting those affected by the quake, as well as ensuring access to humanitarian organizations. Over 3,564 people have died in the earthquake, with over 5,000 injured and 210 still missing.
Rain has hampered relief efforts, and UN officials expressed concerns about access to badly affected areas due to military restrictions. Humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said that those affected need basic necessities like food, water, shelter, and power.
The crisis is compounded by the ongoing civil war between the junta and ethnic militias, with nearly 20 million people already in need before the earthquake struck. Aftershocks continue, and people are struggling to cope with the trauma of the disaster.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp31wk21zveo