A massive earthquake hit Myanmar on March 28, killing at least 2,886 people. The government military declared a temporary ceasefire with opposition groups to speed up relief efforts.
Relief Efforts
Many opposition groups had already announced a unilateral ceasefire to support relief efforts. However, the government military continued to attack rebel groups until the recent declaration.
The Myanmar government reported that over 400 people are still missing. They also claimed that their troops were investigating an incident where they fired on a convoy of Chinese Red Cross vehicles. The government said their troops fired warning shots into the air after the convoy failed to stop.
Incident Investigation
The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), a group opposed to the Myanmar government, said that government troops fired machine guns at the convoy. China’s foreign ministry stated that their rescue team and supply convoy were safe and called on all parties in Myanmar to prioritize earthquake relief efforts.
The ceasefire will last from April 2 to April 22. The opposition groups had been calling for a temporary truce to allow for aid to reach affected areas.
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