ICRC warns people to be careful about hidden explosive devices surfacing after heavy rain & flood

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Myanmar has issued a warning to the people to be careful as hidden explosive devices may surface after incessant rains and floods.

The ICRC  statement, issued on 2 September, said that the explosive materials which were underground may to appear or move to different places after the cyclone engineered rain, flood and landslides.

The people have been urged to be careful when they clear broken trees or the branches. While handling piles of  garbage too, they may find those explosives, and  the residents  should inform the responsible authorities immediately, added the ICRC.

Due to continuous rains in Rakhine State during the last week of July and the first week of  August, floods occurred along the Kaladan and Lay Myo rivers. Incidents of landslide were also reported from various places.

A local aid group informed that there are many IDP camps in the townships of Mrauk U, Kyauk Taw and Ponna Kyunt. They refugees mostly depend on forest produces like  bamboo shots and vegetables for their survival. They need to be extra careful when going to the forests, said an official of the group.

On 15 June, an unexploded shell was found near Wa Taung IDP camp in Kyauk Taw township. 

The local women of Ponna Kyunt township, where the gun fighting took place during the second round of comeback conflicts, depend on seasonal produces like nuts and bamboo shoots from the jungles. Often they find landmines and explosive remnants of war in the jungles and any were wounded as well.

During the last eight months of  2023, no less than 257 people faced the landmine explosions across Myanmar. Nearly 11% of those incidents took place in Rakhine State, stated a report by the UNICEF.