Myanmar's military junta has announced a temporary ceasefire in the country's civil war, aiming to facilitate relief efforts following the recent 7.7 magnitude earthquake. This earthquake has caused over 3,000 deaths, resulting in a dire situation that requires immediate assistance.
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04-03, 2025The sudden announcement, made by the military leader (who is also the head of the unelected government) on state television MRTV on Wednesday evening, stated that the ceasefire would last until April 22 as a show of sympathy for those affected by the earthquake. This follows earlier unilateral announcements of temporary ceasefires by some armed resistance groups opposing the junta's rule, providing a window for aid delivery.
The military warned that these armed groups must cease attacks on the state and regrouping, or face "necessary" measures, while the resistance forces also reserved the right to self-defense. This move was made under pressure from various parties and aims to alleviate the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the earthquake, demonstrating a commitment to addressing the urgent needs of the affected population.
Earlier on Wednesday, rescuers pulled two survivors from the ruins of a hotel in Myanmar's capital five days after the earthquake struck. Another survivor was rescued from a guesthouse in another city, and one was rescued in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city. However, most rescue teams have only found the bodies of victims. The earthquake, which occurred at midday on Friday, caused thousands of buildings to collapse, bridges to fall, and roads to buckle. According to MRTV, the death toll had risen to 3,003 by Wednesday, with more than 4,500 injured. Local reports suggest the actual numbers may be even higher, emphasizing the widespread devastation.
In the capital, Naypyidaw, a team of Turkish and local rescuers used an endoscopic camera to locate Naing Lin Tun on the ground floor of a damaged hotel. After being trapped for nearly 108 hours, they carefully pulled him out through a hole cut in the floor and placed him on a stretcher. A video released by the local fire department showed him shirtless, covered in dust, appearing weak but conscious, as paramedics connected him to an IV drip and took him away. State-run MRTV reported later that day that another man was also rescued from the same building, more than 121 hours after the earthquake. Both men were 26 years old. Another rescue was reported Wednesday evening of a 47-year-old primary school headmaster pulled from the wreckage of a collapsed guesthouse in Sagaing Township by a joint Malaysian and local rescue team, a town near the earthquake's epicenter, close to Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city.
The earthquake also affected neighboring Thailand, causing the collapse of a high-rise building under construction in Bangkok. Earlier on Wednesday, a body was removed from the rubble, bringing the death toll in Bangkok to 22, with 35 others injured, mostly at the construction site. United Nations spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said that continuing aftershocks were complicating humanitarian relief efforts. In Mandalay, many people are completely cut off from electricity and running water. "Affected people continue to need urgent medical care and medical supplies, safe drinking water, food and other critical items," Dujarric said. "Tents and temporary shelter are needed, as well as toilets and other hygiene supplies to prevent disease outbreaks," highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive support.
Myanmar's military seized power from the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, sparking fierce armed resistance. Morgan Michaels, an analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore, said the People's Defence Force (the armed wing of the shadow opposition National Unity Government) and the Three Brotherhood Alliance (three ethnic minority insurgent groups) declared ceasefires earlier this week, putting pressure on the junta to follow suit. Michaels said it was too early to say whether the pause in fighting would lead to a more lasting peace. "To turn a humanitarian pause into something more durable would require very skillful and proactive diplomacy. And that's not guaranteed," indicating the complexities involved in achieving a sustainable resolution.
Countries have pledged millions of dollars in aid to help Myanmar and humanitarian aid organizations with the immense task, while also dispatching specialized search and rescue teams and setting up field hospitals. Myanmar's neighbors, India and China, both vying for influence in the country, have been particularly quick and generous with assistance. Several other countries, including Turkey, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia, have also sent rescue teams. The U.S. government has pledged $2 million in emergency assistance and sent a three-person team to assess how best to respond amid deep cuts in U.S. foreign aid, demonstrating international efforts to support the recovery process.
