Rakhine deserves international aid to tackle deadly landmine crisis

Khaing Lu Hla (Roma Mray) — MRAUK U_ As the casualties from landmines and unexploded ordnance continue to mount across Rakhine State, social workers and local advocates are calling for an urgent international intervention to clear all remnants of war with an aim to prevent public lives.

On 20 March, two older persons from Wet Ru village under Myebon township accidentally stepped on an explosive ordnance while cutting wood. It suddenly exolosed killing U Hla Soe Phyu (68).

On the same day, Daw Aye Khaing Oo (33) from Ga Ma village under the Minbya township stepped on an explosive ordnance. It exploded and injured one of her legs.

Similarly, U Tin San’s son Maung Po La Pyae (11) from Kan Paing ward of Taungup township was playing with a bomb unknowingly and it exploded seriously injuring him.

Earlier on 18 March, U Kyaw Min Htun from Maung Shwe Lay village under Thandwe township stepped on an unexploded mine while cutting firewood on a hill. He lost his left leg in the explosion.

On the same day, three children, while playing with an unexploded RPG bomb, which they picked up from the Kwee Chai village beach under Gwe township, exploded. Maung Wai Yan Lin (12) died on the spot, where Maung Kyaw Ko Ko (12) and Maung Htun Lin Naing (11) sustained injuries.

On 14 February, U Adulameen (35) from Si Thay Muslim village and U Mar Mart Yena (aliasMar Airnet, 27) from Tan Saik Muslim village died after trying to scratch a bomb they picked up from Hpa Pyaw village in Minbya Township, as it exploded.

On 19 January, Maung Min Htet Tha (8) from Out Wra village (Si Saing Kone) under Ann township was killed by an unexploded ordnance. He went to pick some bananas from a farm near his village, when it exploded.

With an increasing number of casualties because of landmines and unexploded ordnance continues, the need for international assistance becomes more relevant.

“The aftermath of battles when unexploded ordnance and landmines create troubles for the common people, it needs to be addressed properly. Those should be cleared as early as possible. But resources for the Arakan Army (AA) are also getting saturated. It may be impossible for the AA too to clear all the unexploded items,” U Wai Hin Aung, a prominent Arakanese author maintaining a soft corner to the AA.

However, it should be admitted that the AA fighters have done a good job, but they may lack manpower and resources. Hence international assistance is needed now, he added.

“We need modern technology and machinery from the international community to deal with the situation,” said Wai Hin Aung.

There are examples of countries, like Cambodia, where international assistance from the United Nations and others were observed in clearing the landmines. Now Rakhine people need the help, said Ko Naing Lin Htun, chairman of Zin Chaung Youth Charity based in Kyauk Phyu township.

“Now before all landmines and UXOs are cleared, we need to increase awareness among the locals. They should be educated as they have to go inside the jungles for daily work for survive,” he added.

In the rural areas, the residents depend on the fish and firewood for livelihood. They need to go to the mountains for survival. In that sense, the poor villagers are living under risk, asserted Naing Lin Htun.

A person, working on mine and UXO risk reduction, reveals that the explosions of such items can harm both the people and also animals. Mines and UXO can not distinguish between friends and enemies and hene it harms everyone, he added.

The Myanmar military junta has suspectedly planted thousands of mines in their camp areas during the Rakhine conflict (2023 to 2025). They have also planted minefields around Sittwe and Kyaukpyu localities, where the current conflict is going on.

According to figures compiled by Narinjara News, 21 civilians, including women and children, were killed and 81 sustained injuries from the landmines and explosive remnants of war last year in the Rakhine region. Rakhine State currently ranks third in the country in terms of mines and explosive remnants casualties.

A Unicef Myanmar report said that 1,082 people were killed in 2024 across the country by landmines and explosive remnants of war. The victims included 314 children too.