A second landmine victim in as many months in Chin State’s Paletwa Township has been transferred to an out-of-state hospital to treat injuries described as critical.
Huay Tang, a 35-year-old father of six, stepped on a landmine on Monday after searching for edible plants with five other locals in the jungle near Yap Chaung village.
Ko Aung Kyaw, of the Paletwa Social Welfare Team, told Khonumthung News that Huay Tang was moved to a hospital in Sittwe, Rakhine State, on Tuesday.
“He got serious landmine injuries. His situation is critical,” Ko Aung Kyaw said, explaining that much of Huay Tang’s face had been damaged, and that he had lost the fingers on his left hand. He also endured injuries to his right thigh.
Clashes have occurred between the Burma Army and the Arakan Army in Paletwa Township since 2015, with battles ongoing. As a result, landmines have been set up in the border area. It is unknown which group placed the landmine that injured Huay Tang.
In late September, 28-year-old Phyit Lite of Paletwa’s Nga Tein village was killed in a landmine explosion while she was searching for yams in the jungle.