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The governing military junta of Myanmar has announced a provisional truce up to April 22nd with the aim of aiding earthquake response efforts and demonstrating empathy towards those impacted, according to reports from state TV channel MRTV.
The announcement from the top brass of the military comes after unilateral provisional truces were declared by various armed opposition factions against the military administration.
The MRTV stated that ethnic armed organizations and local militia should avoid targeting national security personnel and military installations, as well as abstain from assembling troops, organizing operations, or increasing their territorial control.
Should these groups fail to adhere to the specified conditions, the military will implement the required actions as stated in the declaration.
After five days since the devastating earthquake hit central Myanmar, chances of locating additional survivors are diminishing. Rescue teams are facing difficulties due to both the continuing civil unrest and the extensive destruction inflicted upon roads and bridges by the seismic event.
On Wednesday, MRTV reported that the number of fatalities in Myanmar had increased to 2,886, along with an additional 4,639 individuals being wounded.
In neighboring Thailand, where the impact was also felt, officials stated that at least 22 individuals lost their lives.
It is anticipated that the death toll in Myanmar will surpass 3,000 by Wednesday, according to Min Aung Hlaing, the junta leader who took control through a military takeover in 2021.
Humanitarian organizations have demanded a truce between the army and several armed ethnic factions to enable the distribution of assistance.
Even though certain rebel factions have declared individual ceasefires, evidence indicates that the military government continues to carry out assaults in regions affected by the earthquake.
Previously, Tom Andrews, the United Nations' special rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar, stated that military assaults needed to cease.
"The priority in Myanmar should be protecting lives, not ending them," he stated.
The earthquake that struck on Friday has exacerbated the already severe humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.
Prior to the catastrophe, an estimated 20 million individuals required humanitarian aid, as reported by the United Nations.
