Narinjara News, 29 June 2022

Within two months seven landmines were exploded in six townships of Rakhine State and Paletwa township ofChin State killing four people andinjuring five others, according to a reliable source.

The affected Rakhine townships where the explosions took place from 14 to 22 June include Ann,Minbya, Rathedaung, Maebon, Kyauk Taw and Mrauk-U.

The victims include U Than Min Naing hailing from Dalet North village under  Ann township, U Aung TharTun from Pan Myaung village under Minbyatownship, U Maung Than Tin from SaNyin refugee camp in Myebon townshipand Daw Ma Tin Thein from Yothar village under Kyauktaw township.

Seriously injured individuals include  Ko Aung Aung Oo (his left leg is already amputated) from Ngachavillage and Daw Win Khin (her right legamputated)  from Thaka Chaung village under  Paletwa township.

Other injured are U Maung Kyi Win from Sa Nyin War refugee camp in Myebon township, U Aye Sein Tun and DawAye Sein Nu (husband and wife) fromTha Si Gone village in Rathedaung township of Rakhine State.

On 25 June, a landmine was exploded in Mrauk-U township killing a cow belonging to a farmer from Pauk TawByint village located at the foot ofThin Kyit Taw Taung mountain where a military camp is located.

Ashin U Asara, in-charge of the SaNyin refugee camp in Maebon township, said some people were killedand wounded in a recent landmineexplosion in his locality. Now the people are scared of going to the mountains looking for firewood and vegetables. Butsome people from IDP camps have togo there for their survival.

"It becomes dangerous to go to the forest areas. The mines are exploding everywhere in Rakhine State.Most of the landmines have been explodednear the military bases,” he added.

After the ceasefire agreement between the military council and the Arakan Army (AA), the security forcescleared all landmines along the Sittwe-Annhighway and Rathedaung- Agnumaw road by 2020. But the landmines were not cleared in some sensitive areas where theclashes between Tamadaw personneland AA members.

From 2019 to 2021, 58 people were killed and 191 were injured in landmine explosions across Rakhine State and also Paletwa township, revealedthe Rakhine Ethnic Congress (REC).

UNICEF said in the 24 June statement that 155 children were killed and injured due to landmine-explosions in Burma since the military coup (in February 2021). Out of the victims,47 were killed between January andApril 2022, it added.