Landmines and unexploded munitions have emerged as the leading cause of casualties in Myanmar, according to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), which reported that approximately 1,003 individuals were killed or wounded by these devices in 2023. This staggering figure places Myanmar ahead of other conflict-affected nations, including Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, which recorded 933, 651, and 580 casualties respectively.
The rise in landmine-related injuries and deaths can be attributed to decades of conflict between the military and various ethnic rebel groups, which have left the landscape of Myanmar perilously littered with these deadly devices. The military’s ousting of Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in 2021 marked a significant escalation in violence and conflict, resulting in the emergence of numerous self-organized “People’s Defense Forces” (PDFs) now actively engaged in combat against the military regime.
The ICBL highlighted a disturbing reality: due to severe conflict and associated restrictions, the true number of casualties is likely significantly underestimated. Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan from the ICBL emphasized the inadequacies of Myanmar’s medical surveillance system, suggesting that the actual toll could potentially double or triple the reported figures. “How many more? Double? Triple? Quite possibly…” he mused, underlining the challenge of obtaining accurate casualty data amid the ongoing conflict.
The report revealed that Myanmar is not a signatory to any UN conventions banning the use of anti-personnel mines, leading to increased military usage of these munitions in recent years, particularly around critical infrastructure like mobile phone towers and energy pipelines. Such infrastructure has become a target in the ongoing conflict, leading to further civilian endangerment.
The implications of these landmine deployments are severe. The ICBL indicated that forces from Myanmar’s military have been observed coercing civilians to walk ahead of their columns to “clear” mine-affected areas. Evidence suggests that anti-personnel mines manufactured within Myanmar fall into the hands of militant groups at a startling rate, with data showing these mines captured consistently from military supplies between January 2022 and September 2024 across various regions of the country.
The humanitarian implications of this ongoing conflict are profound, with over three million people displaced by violence related to the military coup, as reported by the United Nations. The use of landmines has reportedly been “indiscriminate” on all sides of the conflict, as acknowledged by the UN children’s agency. Rebel groups, too, have admitted to laying mines in territories under their control.
Globally, the ICBL recorded at least 5,757 casualties from landmines and explosive remnants of war last year alone, with civilians constituting 84 percent of those affected. The 2023 figures contrast sharply with those from 2022 when 4,710 casualties, including 1,661 fatalities, were documented. With the situation in Myanmar worsening, the international community faces urgent calls to address the humanitarian crisis and work towards establishing a safer, mine-free environment for its citizens.
