Despite a truce declared after Myanmar’s devastating March 28 earthquake, the country’s military has carried out over 120 attacks—more than half of them after the ceasefire took effect on April 2—drawing sharp condemnation from the United Nations.

Ceasefire Breached as Aid Falters

The earthquake, which killed more than 3,600 people, prompted a rare temporary ceasefire from the warring factions in Myanmar’s long-running civil conflict. But the UN rights office reports that the military continued launching air and artillery strikes, even in quake-affected regions, undermining relief efforts and violating humanitarian law.

UN spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani stated that these attacks appeared “indiscriminate” and were disproportionately affecting civilian areas, including those under opposition control in Sagaing. In the absence of coordinated aid, local communities have been forced to lead their own rescue and relief operations.

UN Calls for Unconditional Access and Amnesty

UN rights chief Volker Turk has demanded the military immediately stop its operations and remove all barriers to aid delivery. He also urged for a full amnesty for political prisoners detained since the 2021 coup, including Aung San Suu Kyi and U Win Myint.

China Steps In with Emergency Aid

In contrast to the military’s actions, China has pledged over $137 million in aid and deployed more than 30 rescue teams. Beijing’s support includes food, medicine, temporary shelters, and emergency funds through the Red Cross.

For Bangladesh, which already hosts nearly a million Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar’s military brutality, this escalation raises alarm. The renewed violence may spark another wave of displacement, heightening regional instability and increasing humanitarian pressure on Cox’s Bazar and beyond.