Myanmar’s junta announced a new post-earthquake ceasefire on Tuesday (May 6), just days after the expiration of a previous humanitarian ceasefire. The earlier ceasefire was reportedly violated by continued air strikes.

The March 28 magnitude-7.7 earthquake near the central city of Mandalay killed nearly 3,800 people and displaced tens of thousands, just as the summer monsoon season approaches. The earthquake caused widespread devastation in the region, leaving many homeless as it wreaked havoc on infrastructure. The timing of this natural disaster has only added to the challenges faced by the population in the already unstable environment.

Monitors say that the junta’s airstrikes violated the first truce in April. The Britain-based Centre for Information Resilience recorded 65 airstrikes, with many occurring in areas affected by the earthquake. The airstrikes exacerbated the suffering of those already struggling from the aftermath of the disaster, making recovery efforts much harder.

On Tuesday, the junta’s information team released a statement announcing a new armistice. The ceasefire, which aims to assist the rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts, will last until the end of May. The junta expressed that the ceasefire would provide much-needed relief to the affected areas, where communities are working to recover from the catastrophic earthquake. However, the military’s announcement of the ceasefire was not without a warning.

The military, which took control in a 2021 coup, warned that it would continue to retaliate against any offensives from ethnic armed groups or anti-coup forces. The junta made it clear that while they are offering a temporary ceasefire, they would not hesitate to strike back if their forces are attacked.

An anonymous military officer from the eastern state of Karen spoke to AFP, stating, "We have to defend the towns and people’s lives by conducting air strikes." He expressed regret over the violence, adding, "We regret that people have to flee from their towns and villages because of the fighting." He further explained, "Locals are well aware of which groups are threatening their lives."