In Rakhine state, Western Myanmar, the Arakan Army (AA) controls two-thirds of the state. One of the Kyauk Phyu residents said that the military council is demanding compensation for the value of mines from local residents who stepped on landmines planted in their controlled areas, Gwa Township and Kyauk Pyu Township.
The people hit by landmines will have to pay 1 million to 1.5 million kyats, and if they don't pay mine compensation, the coup army is threatening to deny medical treatment to those who survived.
The military council announced that the civilians have to pay five hundred thousand kyats as mine compensation to those who were hit by landmines in Gwa City, Kyauk Pyu City, Ann and Toungok.
A young man from Zay Ti Ya Ward, Kyauk Phyu City, who was out looking for bamboo, stepped on a mine and lost one of his legs on July 26th. The coup army demanded money for mines. A family member said that the family had to pay five hundred thousand kyats as compensation because they would not be allowed to receive medical treatment if they did not pay.
We have never heard in the world that the coup army asked the people for money because they lost their mines instead of educating them about mines. It is a very bad violation of human ethics.
A family member of the victim said that it is no longer good to consider the coup army as human beings for doing the worst act.
At least 500 people lost their limbs due to the clashes between the coup army and the AA in Rakhine State, and according to records, there are nearly 100 people who have been killed by landmines during the ongoing war.
The United Nations Children's Agency UNICEF announced on April 4th, 2024 that the death toll from landmines in Myanmar has increased to over 1,000.
The death toll from landmines and explosive remnants of war in Burma has increased by 270 percent in 2024. 390 casualties in 2022, 188 people died and 864 were injured in 2023. According to UNICEF, more than 20 percent of all victims of landmines in 2023 were children.
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