The military council has announced a 20-day temporary ceasefire from April 2 to April 22, following their continued airstrikes across the country after the March 28 earthquake. The announcement was made on the evening of April 2, with the council claiming the ceasefire is intended to facilitate relief and rehabilitation efforts for earthquake-affected civilians, expressing supposed sympathy for the victims.
The military council’s statement included warnings that they would respond if ethnic armed organizations and other armed groups interfere with or attack public transportation and communication routes during the ceasefire period. The announcement further threatened retaliation against any actions that could harm public safety and property, attacks on security forces’ camps and headquarters, or activities deemed as force recruitment, preparation, organization, or territorial expansion that could affect their definition of peace.
The National Unity Government (NUG) had previously announced on March 29 that they would suspend all offensive operations, except defensive actions, from March 30 to April 12. Additionally, the Three Brotherhood Alliance had declared a unilateral one-month ceasefire from April 1 to April 30, stating they would not initiate any offensive operations. According to the military council’s latest report, the death toll from the March 28 earthquake has reached nearly 2,900 people.
