Landmine Crisis in Myanmar: A Family’s Tragic Tale
Bu Ri lost his leg to a mine in Myanmar many years ago. Recently, six more family members faced similar devastation or worse, highlighting the impact of civil war.
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John New Min and fellow rebel soldiers put in hours removing land mines set by Myanmar’s military. They used farm tools and bare hands, with mines found near homes, farms, and churchyards in the country’s east.
During a break, Mr. Min walked toward a tree when he stepped on a mine. The September 2023 explosion threw him into the air, took his right leg, and blinded him.
This incident made him the seventh family member injured or killed by a mine. Before him, his grandfather, uncle, and cousin lost legs to military mines. Three other cousins died.
“It pains me to see that from my generation to my grandchildren’s generation, we are all still suffering because of land mines,” said Bu Ri, 88, who lost his left leg 32 years ago.
The explosive danger, also due to rebel activities, has worsened across Myanmar amid a civil war now in its sixth year. A December report by Landmine Monitor noted Myanmar had 2,029 mine casualties in 2024, more than any other country for the second year. Children are often victims.
Chaos in Myanmar erupted after a military coup in 2021 ousted a democratically elected government. The junta’s return triggered armed resistance, but unable to defeat rebels, the military attacked civilians. They launched airstrikes on weddings and temples and planted land mines in civilian areas.