At least 20 civilians, including a child and four women, have been killed by concealed landmines in Chin State, where fighting has escalated since the 2021 coup, according to the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO).
During the same period, 37 people, including three children and eleven women, have been seriously wounded by explosives planted by armed groups in the state.
Two of these civilians were injured by mines laid by resistance groups; the rest were placed by the Burma army.
“During Burma army patrols, they often stay in civilian villages. Sometimes they sleep in the church and plant landmines before leaving or in the street. When villagers return to their homes, they step on the hidden landmine and die,” said Salai Mang Hare Liang, CHRO project director.
Planting concealed landmines has become a frequent occurrence for Burma army soldiers during offensives, creating enormous dangers for returning civilians who have been displaced by the war. As the mines are also planted in people’s farms, they also threaten their livelihoods.
“International agencies or NGOs need to provide landmine education and training for these people,” he said, along with the equipment to locate where the mines are planted.
Before the coup, most fatalities and injuries from mines occurred in Paletwa Township during clashes between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Burma army.
Since the AA and Burma army are in a ceasefire, these types of incidents have decreased in the township but increased in the rest of the state, where new armed groups have formed.
According to CHRO, since the coup, 11 landmine victims were from Falam Township, 10 in Hakha Township, 9 people in Matupi Township, 9 people in Tedim Township, 7 in Mindat Township, 7 in Paletwa Township, 3 in Thangtlang Township, and 1 in Kanpetlet Township.