Myanmar’s ruling military government has announced a temporary ceasefire in operations against armed opposition groups to aid recovery efforts following the devastating earthquake that killed over 3,000 people. The ceasefire will last until April 22.
The junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, is set to attend a meeting in neighboring Thailand on Thursday to discuss the response to the earthquake, which also claimed at least 22 lives in Thailand, including 15 workers trapped under rubble in Bangkok.
Aid agencies warn that the destruction caused by the 7.7 magnitude quake has led to a medical crisis in Myanmar, with people in Mandalay city cut off from electricity and running water. The lack of clean water is creating an issue in terms of immediate survival, but could also create epidemics in the future, according to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
The United Nations said cases of acute diarrhea and heat-related illnesses are rising in displacement sites, while humanitarian efforts are being hindered by aftershocks and a lack of resources. The country’s health infrastructure has been severely battered by civil war for four years, leaving it ill-equipped to deal with major natural disasters.
In response to the earthquake, Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government declared a temporary pause on offensive military operations to facilitate rescue efforts. However, Amnesty International reported that the military junta continued air strikes in the days following the quake.
The country is largely outside of the control of the military junta, with swaths of territory controlled by ethnic rebels and militias making reliable information difficult to compile. The government has been embroiled in civil war since a bloody and economically destructive military coup in 2021.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/02/asia/myanmar-earthquake-ceasefire-military-intl/index.html