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Myanmar Military Violates Ceasefire, Continues Attacks on Rebel-Held Areas Amid Earthquake Devastation

In the wake of a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, killing over 3,800 people and displacing nearly 200,000, the country’s military junta has been accused of repeatedly violating a ceasefire intended to facilitate humanitarian relief efforts. Despite international calls for peace and an urgent need to focus on rebuilding shattered communities, the Myanmar military has continued its aggressive campaign against rebel-held territories, drawing widespread condemnation. This ongoing conflict, set against the backdrop of a humanitarian crisis, highlights the complex and volatile situation in Myanmar, where a civil war has raged for years.

A Ceasefire in Name Only

Following the March earthquake, which had its epicenter just 16 kilometers northwest of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, the military junta announced a temporary ceasefire on April 2, 2025. The truce was extended multiple times, most recently to May 31, to support reconstruction efforts and allow aid to reach those affected by the disaster. Anti-junta armed groups, including ethnic rebel forces, also agreed to pause offensive operations to prioritize relief efforts. However, reports from the ground tell a starkly different story.

According to the United Nations and independent crisis monitors, the Myanmar military has conducted over 170 attacks since the initial ceasefire announcement, including 140 airstrikes and numerous artillery barrages. Many of these attacks targeted civilian areas in rebel-controlled regions, such as Karenni (Kayah) state and Shan state. On April 16, junta aircraft bombed South Kan Ma Yaik village in Karen state, killing a pregnant woman and her unborn child during Burmese New Year celebrations. Such incidents have fueled accusations that the military is exploiting the earthquake’s chaos to intensify its campaign against opposition forces.

Local journalists and eyewitnesses have documented the military’s actions. Quentin Sommerville, a BBC reporter who spent 10 days in rebel-held Karenni state in mid-April, described the ceasefire as a “joke” among resistance fighters. He witnessed daily attacks, including a full-scale assault with heavy weapons on rebel positions. A doctor in the region reported treating war-related injuries during the supposed truce, with two resistance fighters dying from their wounds. These accounts paint a grim picture of a military unwilling to honor its commitments, even in the face of a national tragedy.

Earthquake Devastation Compounds the Crisis

The March 28 earthquake was one of the deadliest natural disasters in Myanmar’s recent history, leaving over 17 million people in need of food, water, shelter, and healthcare. The quake destroyed more than 50,000 buildings and generated 2.5 million tonnes of debris, according to the UN Development Programme. Inle Lake and areas around Mandalay were among the hardest hit, with communities struggling to recover amid ongoing aftershocks.

The Myanmar military’s response to the disaster has been widely criticized. Instead of focusing on aid distribution, the junta has restricted access to affected areas, blocking most international media and limiting humanitarian assistance. Local groups and rebel forces have taken on much of the relief effort, with ordinary citizens leading reconstruction initiatives. Shwe Phee Myay, a Shan State-based news outlet, has been among the few able to report from within the country, highlighting the risks journalists face to document the crisis. The military’s actions, including hoarding aid and continuing attacks, have deepened the humanitarian crisis, leaving millions without adequate support.

Rebel Forces and Civilian Resistance

Myanmar’s civil war, which intensified after the military coup in February 2021, pits the junta against a coalition of ethnic armed groups and resistance forces, including the Karen National Union and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). These groups control significant portions of the country, particularly in border regions like Karenni and Shan states. While rebel forces have suspended offensive operations during the ceasefire, they have vowed to respond if attacked, as confirmed by commanders on the ground.

Civilians in rebel-held areas have borne the brunt of the military’s aggression. Airstrikes and artillery attacks have destroyed homes, schools, and religious sites, including the Sacred Heart of Jesus church in Karenni state, where the earthquake already toppled the steeple. The military’s strategy appears to target communities perceived as supporting the resistance, a tactic described as “collective punishment” by rights groups. Despite the dangers, local journalists and activists continue to expose these violations, often at great personal risk.

International Response and Calls for Accountability

The international community has expressed alarm over the junta’s actions. The United Nations Human Rights Office has called for a “genuine and permanent nationwide halt to hostilities” and a return to civilian rule, emphasizing the need to prioritize humanitarian aid. Ravina Shamdasani, a UN spokesperson, noted that over 120 attacks occurred after the April 2 ceasefire, more than half in earthquake-affected areas. ASEAN, led by Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has engaged in diplomatic efforts to extend the truce, but these have yielded limited results.

Posts on X have echoed these concerns, with users like @Myanmar_Now_Eng reporting ongoing airstrikes in Nawnghkio Township, a frontline in the conflict with the TNLA, as recently as May 22, 2025. Another post by @TayTawanMyanmar described a junta bombing in Let Pan Hla village, highlighting the fires and displacement caused by the attack. While these posts reflect public sentiment, they also underscore the challenges of verifying information in a conflict zone where independent reporting is restricted.

A Nation at a Crossroads

The Myanmar military’s refusal to honor the ceasefire has far-reaching implications. By prioritizing its campaign against rebels over earthquake recovery, the junta risks further alienating a population already weary of its rule. The civil war has displaced about 3 million people, and the earthquake has pushed the total number of those needing aid to over 20 million. The military’s actions, including blocking aid and targeting civilians, have drawn comparisons to its response to past disasters, such as Cyclone Nargis in 2008, when it refused international assistance.

For the people of Myanmar, the situation is dire. Communities are caught between the devastation of the earthquake and the violence of the ongoing conflict. Resistance groups remain determined to fight, with commanders like Yi Shui of the Karenni National Army emphasizing the need to continue opposing the junta. Meanwhile, civilians and local journalists strive to rebuild and document the truth, despite the risks.

As the ceasefire deadline approaches on May 31, 2025, the international community faces a critical challenge: how to hold the Myanmar military accountable while ensuring aid reaches those in need. Without a genuine commitment to peace, Myanmar’s path to recovery remains uncertain, and the suffering of its people will likely deepen.