Seven children injured in explosion of war remnant in Maungdaw Twsp

By Admin 13 Apr 2024

DMG Newsroom
13 April 2024, Maungdaw

Seven children under 12 years old were reportedly injured in an explosion of a war remnant in Tamanthar Village, part of Arakan State’s Maungdaw Township, at about 7 a.m. on April 13.

The injured range in age from 4 to 11. Of them, four children are receiving emergency medical treatment as their conditions are considered life-threatening.

“They played in groups. They brought the unexploded ordnance home from outside the village and it exploded when they hit it with a hammer. Four of them [the victims’ conditions] are considered life-threatening,” said a local man.

Locals in rural areas where fighting often takes place have suffered many casualties due to lack of knowledge about explosive remnants of war (ERW), said another local man.

“Children didn’t know that it was an explosive device and brought it home. It is very sad that this happened. It’s worse that there is no more landmine education,” he explained.

A local man was killed and a woman was severely injured in a blast of an explosive remnant of war in Ngatanpyin Village, Minbya Township, on April 7.

Mine blasts have killed or injured more than 20 civilians in Kyaukphyu, Minbya, Myebon, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Ann townships since renewed fighting broke out in November of last year.

In Myanmar as a whole, the injury and death tolls due to landmines and ERWs continue to rise. In 2022, 390 people died due to landmines and ERWs, and in 2023, there were 188 killed and 864 injured, totaling 1,025, according to UNICEF Myanmar.