Myanmar rebel government calls for two-week ‘pause’ in fighting following earthquake

Myanmar's NUG calls for ceasefire after earthquake, urges international aid for relief efforts in conflict-affected areas.

In a major development, Myanmar’s rebel National Unity Government (NUG) has called for a “pause” in fighting against the military junta citing the widespread destruction caused by Friday’s (March 28, 2025) earthquake. Announcing the suspension of attacks in nearly four-year-old conflict, NUG’s acting president Duwa Lashi La urged the international community to send relief material to the areas that are under the control of the NUG. The NUG further said the People’s Defence Force (PDF), the armed wing of the NUG will maintain ceasefire for two weeks from March 30, 2025.

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“To facilitate rescue operations for people trapped in the debris of collapsed buildings structures, and workplaces, the Ministry of Defence of the NUG announced that the PDF will implement a two-week pause in offensive military operations, except for defensive actions, in earthquake-affected areas starting March 30, 2025,” the NUG announced on Saturday (March 29, 2025.)

“We thank our friends for their solidarity. Please – ASEAN, neighbours, UN, international community – urgently deploy cross-border assistance and equipment to the NUG and our ethnic and CSO partners to ensure it reaches all in need. Worst hit areas must be prioritised,” said Duwa Lashi La. Though armed resistance by Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) is a decades old problem, the resistance turned into an intractable conflict after the junta took power in a coup on 1 February 2021.

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NUG which controls large parts of the Sagaing region of Myanmar announced that during the ceasefire period the PDF and the People’s Defence Teams (PDT) will carry out “rescue and relief operations in the areas affected by the earthquake. In a message, NUG announced that at least 369 people have died in the earthquake in the areas under its control and around 223 persons are missing in the aftermath of the earthquake. NUG announced that the number of the injured is around 1,822. That apart around 2,970 buildings were destroyed and seven bridges damaged and five dams were damaged too.

NUG has further informed that it has started carrying out urgent relief and repair operations in Sagaing region. “Our commitment to helping our people remains unwavering through every possible means. Every helping hand, every voice, and every action matters,” said NUG’s Prime Minister Mahn Winn Khaing Thann. India is among the first responders to send relief material to Myanmar but the Ministry of External Affairs has not clarified whether the Indian assistance would also be extended to the areas under the control of the NUG and the armed PDF and other rebel groups.