Myanmar has overtaken Syria as the country with the highest landmine casualties, reporting 1,003 incidents in 2023, driven by widespread conflict after the military coup. The report by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines details the extensive use of landmines by both the military and armed groups, resulting in significant civilian casualties, particularly among children. This alarming situation highlights the critical need for intervention and protection of innocent lives amid ongoing violence.
Myanmar has officially surpassed Syria as the nation with the highest number of casualties resulting from landmines and explosive remnants of war, according to a recent report. The International Campaign to Ban Landmines indicated that this alarming trend follows the outbreak of conflict after the military coup in February 2021, with casualties reported in every region except Naypyidaw, the heavily fortified capital. The 2024 Landmine Monitor report revealed that Myanmar recorded 1,003 casualties last year, a significant increase compared to Syria’s 933, highlighting a dire humanitarian crisis.
The report underscores the extensive deployment of landmines by both Myanmar’s military junta and various armed groups opposing it. As civilians increasingly took up arms against military rule, older ethnic armed groups also resumed efforts to resist the junta as part of a complex and violent conflict landscape. Harrowing accounts include the military utilizing civilians as guides in mined areas, effectively employing them as human shields, as well as incidents where farmers were coerced into paying for mines detonated by their livestock—a blatant exploitation of innocent lives amid warfare.
Additionally, the report noted that new explosive devices are often found in civilian areas, concealed within black plastic bags, posing substantial risks to people unwittingly handling them. Dr. Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan, a researcher for the report, highlighted the tragic irony, stating that these activities rarely target military sites but instead aim to sabotage individuals tied to organizations now controlled by the junta. The overall casualty figures may represent a grave underestimation, with researchers suggesting the true number could potentially be double or even triple.
Globally, the report found that civilians constituted 84% of all recorded casualties, and children were particularly impacted, making up 37% of such reported incidents. As the conflict in Myanmar escalates, the use of landmines remains a critical concern, necessitating urgent international attention and intervention to prevent further loss of life and uphold humanitarian standards.
The issue of landmine casualties in Myanmar has reached alarming levels, particularly in the aftermath of the military coup that began in February 2021. An alarming escalation in violence and conflict has prompted widespread use of landmines across various states and regions in Myanmar. The International Campaign to Ban Landmines has taken a keen interest in this humanitarian crisis, particularly noting that civilian populations are frequently caught in the crossfire, suffering dire consequences from explosive remnants of war. Understanding this backdrop is crucial in assessing the broader implications of landmine utilization in armed conflict.
The situation in Myanmar represents a significant humanitarian crisis, with the country now leading the world in landmine casualties. The findings from the Landmine Monitor 2024 report illuminate the dire environment faced by civilians who are increasingly victimized by both military actions and the ongoing armed conflict. The trend underscores the urgent necessity for international intervention to mitigate casualties, protect civilians, and promote the cessation of landmine use in conflict zones.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
