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Myanmar’s Civilian NUG Announces Military Pause for Quake Response.
Myanmar’s civilian National Unity Government (NUG) has announced a temporary halt to offensive military operations in areas affected by the devastating 7.7-magnitude quake that struck northwest of Sagaing on Friday, in order to allow for humanitarian relief and rescue efforts.
The disaster caused widespread destruction and has officially claimed at least 1,644 lives across multiple regions and states including Sagaing, Mandalay, Bago, Naypyitaw, Magwe and southern Shan, with the death toll expected to climb dramatically and tens of thousands reported injured.
In response, to allow for rescue efforts in quake-hit areas, the NUG’s Ministry of Defense declared a two-week pause in offensive operations in those areas “and related districts” by its armed wing the People’s Defense Force (PDF) starting Sunday, except for defensive actions.
The NUG also urged the United Nations, international relief agencies and humanitarian organizations to provide immediate assistance and medical support to earthquake victims, offering to cooperate with them and guaranteeing security in areas under its control.
PDF groups and ethnic armed organizations control more than half of the country as a result of their military offensives against the junta since it overthrew Myanmar’s elected government on Feb. 1, 2021.
Junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing made a rare plea for international help after the powerful earthquake devasted many parts of the country, including Naypyitaw, its administrative capital and home to its leaders, offices and military headquarters.
Many regime buildings and some houses of military leaders collapsed due to the quake on Friday.
Regardless, the junta has continued to launch airstrikes in Sagaing and Magwe regions and northern Shan State since the earthquake.
According to the NUG’s statement, in junta-controlled regions, NUG-affiliated Civil Disobedience Movement healthcare workers would coordinate with international humanitarian groups, provided safety guarantees are met.
The NUG has also allocated US$1 million for emergency rescue and medical operations across the country, it said.
Together with resistance forces and allied organizations, it will carry out rescue operations under “People to People” initiatives, it said.
“To our international friends and Myanmar communities abroad, I strongly urge you to provide timely and effective assistance to our people,” NUG Acting President Duwa Lashi La said on Saturday.
He emphasized the importance of ensuring that aid does not end up being used for publicity or political purposes, but truly reaches those in genuine need, “completely and directly”.
The death toll from the magnitude-7.7 earthquake could reach between 10,000 and 100,000, the United States Geological Survey estimated. It issued a red alert indicating high casualties and extensive damage, adding that the quake could see Myanmar’s GDP shrink by up to 70 percent.
Friday’s earthquake was the largest to hit Myanmar in more than a century. The junta confirmed 1,644 deaths and 3, 408 injured by Saturday night.