A report reveals that Myanmar surpassed Syria in 2022 as the nation with the highest landmine casualties, recording 1,003 deaths and injuries. The increase is tied to the military coup in 2021, which intensified the conflict and led to widespread landmine deployment by both military and opposition forces. Civilians, especially children, have been disproportionately affected, constituting 84% of total casualties. This alarming trend underscores the ongoing humanitarian disaster resulting from the conflict.
Myanmar has supplanted Syria as the nation with the highest number of landmine-related injuries and fatalities, according to a report by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Following the military coup in 2021, the deployment of landmines has surged, resulting in casualties across almost every region except for the capital, Naypyidaw. The report reveals that landmines have been employed by both the military junta and opposing armed groups, affecting the civilian population severely.
In 2023, Myanmar recorded a staggering total of 1,003 casualties, significantly surpassing Syria, which had reported 933 such cases. The conflict, which has escalated since the coup, has prompted widespread armed resistance from civilians and ethnic minorities, contributing to an alarming increase in landmine usage. Moreover, evidence has emerged of the military using civilians as human shields in mine-affected regions, highlighting the grim realities of the ongoing conflict.
Beyond Myanmar, Ukraine and Afghanistan followed, with each recording over 500 landmine-related casualties last year. The report underscores that civilians represent 84% of all recorded casualties, with children constituting 37% of these figures. As violence continues to erupt and the use of explosive devices persists, the situation remains grim, posing dire risks to those caught in the conflict zones.
The issue of landmine casualties is deeply rooted in the tumultuous political landscape of Myanmar, exacerbated by the military coup that took place in February 2021. Following the coup, various armed factions, including civilians mobilized into defense forces and long-established ethnic groups, have engaged in an armed struggle against the military junta. The resulting conflict has led to a dramatic upsurge in the use of landmines, which has disproportionately affected the civilian population, leading to significant casualties and injuries across the country. The situation has been monitored by organizations like the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which track the impacts of landmines on communities in conflict, both globally and specifically within Myanmar.
The emerging situation in Myanmar, marked by the highest rates of landmine casualties in the world, reflects a profound humanitarian crisis fueled by ongoing conflict and military aggression. Civilians, particularly children, continue to bear the brunt of this violence, as both the military and armed groups deploy landmines indiscriminately. The findings reveal not only the severe impact of explosive remnants of war on human lives but also highlight the urgent need for international attention and intervention to address this escalating tragedy.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
