Myanmar’s fragile ceasefire: Disaster, conflict, and the struggle for aid

International

MYANMAR’S military has announced a temporary ceasefire—but not for peace.

After a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit the country last Friday, the ruling junta declared a truce from April 2 to April 22 to help with relief and rebuilding. This is a big change since the military had refused previous ceasefire offers from rebel groups.

The earthquake has caused massive destruction, killing at least 2,886 people in Myanmar with thousands still missing.

Neighboring Thailand also felt the disaster, with 21 deaths reported there.

Myanmar was already struggling with a civil war, and the earthquake has made things even worse.

Foreign governments and aid organizations are sending help, but the ongoing fighting is making it hard to deliver supplies. The conflict between the military and rebel forces is stopping aid from reaching the people who need it most.

Despite the military’s promise to stop fighting, violence continues.

In a report by BBC, Myanmar’s army fired at a Chinese Red Cross convoy carrying earthquake relief supplies on Tuesday night. The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), a rebel group, said the attack happened in Shan State while the convoy was heading to Mandalay, one of the worst-hit areas.

Luckily, no one was injured. The military denied attacking the convoy on purpose. They claimed they fired warning shots after the vehicles failed to stop at a checkpoint. The army also said the convoy was not properly registered, even though it had Chinese stickers and Myanmar license plates.

China’s government later confirmed that its rescue team and supplies were safe. They called on all sides to focus on helping earthquake victims instead of fighting.

The TNLA, however, insisted they had already informed the military about the convoy’s route.

The earthquake has highlighted another problem—who controls humanitarian aid? The military says all foreign aid must go through them, but rebel groups, who control large parts of the country, are also organizing their own relief efforts.(Kate Glydel Anne Alegado, CTU-TC Interns)