Unexploded ordnance blast kills IDP child, injures two others in Ponnagyun

By Admin 09 Oct 2023

DMG Newsroom
9 October 2023, Sittwe

It has been nearly a year since the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) observed an informal ceasefire in November 2022, but residents in Arakan State continue to face the danger of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERWs).

A child from a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) near Yoe Tayoke Railway Station in Ponnagyun Township was killed and two others were injured when an explosive remnant of war blew up at about 10 a.m. on October 8.

The deceased 10-year-old has been identified as Maung Nay Toe Hein, and the injured are 8-year-olds Maung Myo Chit Oo and Maung Myo Zaw Lin.

“An unexploded bomb blasted at an IDP shelter in the displacement camp. We don’t know how they got the bomb,” said U Aung Myint, manager of the displacement camp.

Maung Myo Chit Oo sustained injuries to his head and left arm, and is currently being treated at Yoe Tayoke Hospital. Maung Myo Zaw Lin received injuries to his face, arms and groin, and has reportedly been transferred to Sittwe General Hospital.

The Yoe Tayoke displacement camp is home to more than 200 IDPs from Boketaw Village in Ponnagyun Township, as well as residents of Chaungtu and Ywetmahnyoetaung villages in Kyauktaw Township.

“We rely on the forests for our livelihood as we have no regular income. We are worried about the risk of landmines and would like to urge the concerned officials to clear the landmines,” said Ma Than Than Htay, an IDP woman from Yoe Tayoke displacement camp.

Since November 26 — when the Arakan Army and Myanmar military reached their informal ceasefire — six people have been killed and 14 others were injured in landmine explosions in Arakan State, according to a DMG tally.

IDPs asked officials to remove an unexploded mortar shell found on a hill near No. 2 Wah Taung camp for IDPs in Kyauktaw Township as soon as possible, but it has not yet been removed.

The artillery shell was discovered about five furlongs west of the displacement camp on July 21.

“An unexploded artillery shell was discovered on the hill to the west of the displacement camp,” said U Naing Tun Win, an official from the IDP camp. “We informed the responsible people about the unexploded ordnance, but they still haven’t removed it. There are children in the displacement camp, and I’m worried that they will touch it before we notice, so I want junta officials to remove the unexploded mortar shell as soon as possible.”

Landmines and ERWs can take various forms, and can be made of a variety of materials including metal, plastic, wood and bamboo. Safety advocates say civilian populations need to understand that explosive devices can detonate at any time and still pose a danger, no matter how long they may have laid dormant or deteriorated. As children are naturally curious and inclined to play with objects of all sorts, it is necessary to inform them of the dangers of landmines and ERWs, those advocates add.

According to a DMG tally, 64 people died and 162 others were injured in explosions of landmines and ERWs in 2022 in Arakan State and neighbouring Chin State’s Paletwa Township.