Arakan, Paletwa Twsp see 123 civilian casualties from landmines and unexploded munitions in 2024: UN

By Admin 13 Dec 2024

DMG Newsroom
13 December 2024, Sittwe

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said in a report on December 13 that 123 civilians were killed or injured so far this year due to landmines and explosive remnants of war in Arakan State and Paletwa Township, Chin State.

The casualties were 15 from Maungdaw; three each from Thandwe and Ponnagyun; four each from Taungup, Buthidaung and Myebon; six each from Ramree and Rathedaung; 16 each from Kyaukphyu and Paletwa; nine from Ann, 10 from Minbya; 15 from Sittwe; five each from Kyauktaw and Gwa; and two from Mrauk-U.

Locals in Arakan State say the military regime, which has lost large swaths of territory in Arakan State and Paletwa Township to the Arakkha Army (AA) over the past 13 months, is known to plant landmines liberally as part of its defensive strategy. Reports of landmine encounters, which are often fatal or cause grievous wounds, are a regular occurance.

"Landmines are planted in the forests in our area. Many people were killed or injured in landmine blasts. Locals are facing livelihood hardships as they dare not go out of their homes," said a youth in Kyaukphyu.

On October 28, a 12-year-old boy from Tattaung Town lost his left leg after he stepped on a landmine while on his way with friends to a location where junta soldiers were once stationed.

Social activists say there are landmines that cannot be seen by the naked eye in places where junta soldiers have camped, and local people need to be careful and avoid such places.

"Landmines were heavily used wherever the regime troops were stationed ... That is why it is important for local residents not to travel unnecessarily to areas where regime forces are [or were previously] stationed," said writer Wai Hun Aung, a social activist in Arakan State.

In Myanmar, there were at least 889 civilian casualties due to landmine explosions and unexploded ordnance blasts in the nine months from January to September, according to the UN humanitarian agency's report.

In 2023, Myanmar recorded the world's highest number of casualties from landmines and explosive remnants of war, at 1,052 people - 21 percent of whom were children.