Myanmar military declares ceasefire for COVID-19 fight

Members of Fire Service Department wearing full protective gear spray disinfectant from fire engine in hopes of curbing the spread of coronavirus on a street in Yangon, Myanmar (Photo: AP)

Myanmar's military on May 9 declared a nearly 4-month ceasefire period in order to concentrate forces on curbing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.  

The ceasefire will be applied to the areas except for those where armed organisations named as terrorists by the government are based, said a statement from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services.

The military's ceasefire period is set from May 10 to August 31 this year.

In the statement, the ethnic armed organisations are urged to take accountability and exercise restraint in order to avoid fighting with each other and not to oppress local ethnic people.

According to the statement, the military will take action if there is any violation to the mentioned instructions.

The military pledged to continue taking part in the nationwide prevention, control and treatment of the disease./. 

VNA