Myanmar’s junta announced that it will extend its 20-day ceasefire until April 30 to aid in the country’s earthquake recovery, state-run broadcaster MRTV reported.
A devastating magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck near Mandalay on March 28, resulting in over 3,700 deaths and injuring more than 5,000 people.
In response to the disaster, the junta announced a temporary ceasefire to facilitate relief efforts. The exiled civilian National Unity Government, or NUG, and several ethnic armed groups declared similar pauses in hostilities.
However, such ceasefires have offered little protection to civilians as military operations, including airstrikes, have continued in certain areas, according to sources.
Rebel militias, who captured new territory across Chin and Sagaing regions, for instance, were met with junta airstrikes that killed 50 civilians, including the elderly, children and women in a three-day period alone.
An airstrike in Sagaing region killed five people and injured another seven, said a resident in Tabayin township’s Let Hloke village only one day after junta’s ceasefire extension was announced.
“The Myanmar military is always like this, we can never believe them. This ceasefire is just a show they’re putting on for the world,” he said on Wednesday, declining to be named for fear of reprisals.
He identified the victims as 13-year-old girl Jay Oo, a 40-year-old woman known as “Mrs. Lone,” 45-year-old man San Zaw, 26-year-old man Aung Kyaw Kyaw and an 80-year-old woman known as “Mrs. Saung.”
The junta has previously stated that it will retaliate against any attacks on key transport routes or military installations, regardless of the ceasefire announcement.
“The military’s ceasefire is only on paper and was extended only due to international pressure,” said Nay Bone Latt, spokesperson for the NUG’s office of the president.
“Although it was extended only on paper, on the ground we’ve seen they’re continuously bombing and instigating conflicts with civilians.”
Junta spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun has not responded to Radio Free Asia’s inquiries.
According to data compiled by RFA, airstrikes launched between the ceasefire dates of April 2 and 22 have killed 161 people and injured 299 people.
Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn.