Myanmar Surpasses Syria in Landmine Casualties Amid Ongoing Conflict

Myanmar has now become the country with the highest landmine casualties, recording 1,003 incidents last year, overtaking Syria, which accounted for 933. The report by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines indicates that the military junta and local armed groups are responsible for extensive landmine usage, significantly impacting civilians, particularly children, amid the ongoing military conflict.

In a troubling development, Myanmar has overtaken Syria as the nation with the highest number of landmine-related casualties, as detailed in the latest report by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. The study highlights the alarming rise in landmine utilization in Myanmar, particularly following the military coup in February 2021, which has led to an escalation in conflict across various regions. The report documents 1,003 casualties in Myanmar for the past year, surpassing Syria’s count of 933 and placing Afghanistan and Ukraine in third and fourth place, respectively, with over 500 incidents each.

The report elucidates the extensive application of landmines by both Myanmar’s military regime and various armed groups opposing it. It outlines distressing instances where the military has reportedly used civilians as guides to navigate through mine-laden areas, often putting them in grave danger and effectively using them as shields. Additionally, the military has been accused of coercing farmers into covering the costs of landmine incidents involving their livestock, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the country.

Explosives are increasingly being deployed in urban areas under military control, sometimes hidden within refuse, posing significant risks to civilians, including children. This situation has further complicated the already dire humanitarian landscape in Myanmar, where civilians constitute 84% of reported casualties associated with landmines, and children make up a staggering 37% of the civilian injuries documented.

Despite efforts to address the crisis, neither the military junta nor the exiled opposition National Unity Government has provided comments in response to inquiries regarding the report’s findings. Given a lack of formal surveillance systems in the country, the true number of casualties may be significantly higher than the reported figures, possibly indicating a far greater humanitarian toll than currently understood.

The alarming rise in landmine casualties in Myanmar stems from the conflict that erupted following the military coup in February 2021. Traditional armed groups and newer civilian defense forces have engaged in armed resistance against the junta, escalating the use of landmines across the country. The findings from the Landmine Monitor 2024 reveal that landmines are indiscriminately impacting civilians throughout Myanmar, amid an environment of escalating violence and humanitarian concerns. The pervasive presence of landmines, especially in urban and rural locales, underscores a critical public safety crisis.

The recent report by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines underscores the grim reality of landmine utilization in Myanmar, highlighting its emergence as the leading country for landmine casualties. With civilians, particularly children, disproportionately affected, the humanitarian implications cannot be overlooked. As the conflict continues without resolution, the need for international intervention and support to eliminate landmines and protect vulnerable populations is paramount. The discrepancies in reported figures further suggest an urgent need for comprehensive surveillance to address this pressing issue.

Original Source: www.theguardian.com