In brief
On Tuesday night, Myanmar's military opened fire on a convoy from the Chinese Red Cross, which was carrying essential earthquake relief supplies. The convoy, composed of nine vehicles, was targeted in eastern Shan State while attempting to reach Mandalay, one of the cities most affected by the recent 7.7 magnitude earthquake. According to the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), military troops unleashed machine-gun fire on the convoy, although no casualties have been reported.
In response to the shooting, Myanmar's junta issued a statement claiming an investigation is underway, while asserting that troops fired warning shots into the air after the convoy failed to stop upon being signaled. China's foreign ministry confirmed the safety of their rescue team and supplies, expressing hope that all factions in Myanmar would prioritize efforts for earthquake relief.The ongoing civil war in Myanmar, fueled by the military's coup in 2021, has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. The earthquake has left over 2,700 confirmed dead, although many speculate the real figure may be significantly higher. Numerous international aid organizations and foreign governments continue to send personnel and critical supplies to the affected areas.A military representative explained that they first recognized the aid convoy when it approached from Naungcho township, adding that they were not informed beforehand about the convoy's movement. The spokesperson clarified that warning shots were fired only after the convoy ignored the military's attempts to halt it. The TNLA, which was escorting the Red Cross convoy, contended that they had notified the military council of their journey to Mandalay.Notably, while several rebel groups have declared temporary ceasefires in support of earthquake relief, the military has yet to reciprocate. Just hours after the quake shook the region, the junta reportedly conducted an airstrike in Naungcho, resulting in seven fatalities. Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing stated that military operations would persist due to ongoing training by ethnic armed groups for potential attacks, a stance that has drawn sharp criticism from the UN, which labeled the airstrikes as "completely outrageous and unacceptable."
