Landmine blast injures two displaced women in Chin State 

By DMG 20 Jun 2022

DMG Newsroom
20 June 2022, Paletwa, Chin State 

Two women from a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Paletwa Township, Chin State, were injured in a landmine blast on Monday morning. 

The two women have been identified as Daw Win Khin, 38, and Daw Chay Khin, in her 50s. They were injured after encountering the landmine at a location between Abaung Thar and Takarchaung villages, U Ni Hla Aung, manager of the displacement camp, told DMG. 

“The victims went to the forest to search for vegetables. Daw Win Khin stepped on a landmine and her condition is considered life-threatening,” he said. 

Daw Win Khin lost her right leg in the landmine explosion, while Daw Chay Khin sustained minor injuries to her right arm and her condition is not considered life-threatening, he added. 

Fighting erupted between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military near the site of the landmine explosion on May 26. It is not known which group may have planted the landmine. 

The victims are currently receiving medical treatment at a public hospital in Paletwa. 

“The two women went to the jungle to collect vegetables as they have no regular income. They were injured in a landmine blast and are currently receiving medical treatment at Paletwa Hospital. I want the landmines near the village to be cleared,” the in-charge of Takarchaing village told DMG. 

A couple from Thazigon village in Arakan State’s Rathedaung Township were injured in a landmine explosion on June 17, according to local villagers. An IDP was killed and another injured in a landmine explosion near Sanyin village in Arakan State’s Myebon Township on June 14. 

Last month, a local man from Paletwa Township, Chin State, was severely injured in a landmine blast on May 30, and an elderly woman from Yokethar village in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township was killed in a landmine blast on May 31. 

At least 56 people were killed and 134 others were injured in landmine and explosive remnant of war (ERW) encounters during some two years of fighting between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army in Arakan State from 2018-2020, according to the Rakhine Ethnics Congress. Though the conflict came to a halt toward the end of 2020, landmine casualties have continued with regularity in the months since.