Myanmar’s soldiers fired at a Chinese Red Cross relief convoy carrying aid for earthquake victims in Mandalay, according to a rebel group in Myanmar. This incident indicates that the military, which had staged a coup four years earlier and is engaged in a violent civil war, will continue hostilities despite the earthquake that killed at least 2,700 people. Myanmar’s junta leader stated that military operations will continue as necessary “protective measures” in response to the attack, which took place at 9:21 p.m. on Tuesday at the village of Ummati. The convoy retreated to Naung Cho, where TNLA stepped in to protect it. Myanmar’s military and China’s Red Cross Society did not respond, while China provided aid after the earthquake. Rebel groups and the National Unity Government declared ceasefires, but the army continued bombing. The attack highlights the difficulties of delivering aid in a war zone, and the junta and pro-military groups have killed 6,476 people. International aid groups started entering Mandalay and the conflict-ridden Sagaging region, but military restrictions have hindered their efforts.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/world/asia/myanmar-quake-aid.html