By Jar Seng / MPA
Displaced residents in areas controlled by the Arakan Army (AA)/United League of Arakan (ULA) face prolonged displacement, unable to return home due to the widespread presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance, local sources report
Following the renewed hostilities accompanying Operation 1027, which began on 27 Oct, 2023, the number of displaced persons in Rakhine State has surged to over 600,000. These internally displaced people have sought refuge in areas liberated by the ULA/AA.
“With the AA stationed near our village for over three years, there could be landmines in the area. If we go back, we’d depend on the forests and mountains for our livelihood, but unexploded ordnance might still be there, making it too dangerous to return” said a displaced female from Mee Wa village in Kyauktaw Township.
Currently, the AA has control over 10 townships in Rakhine State and Paletwa Township in Chin State. With the increasing military activities, the junta military has cut off land and water transport routes, causing significant hardships for the people of Rakhine State.
In addition to overseeing local administrative mechanisms in townships such as Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk U, Minbya, Myebon, Thandwe, and Ramree, the AA maintains control, though many displaced people within these townships are still unable to return to their homes.
Among these liberated areas, displaced people in Kyauktaw Township express a desire to return home. However, since the AA had a long-standing presence in the area, there are fears that landmines may still exist, leading to anxiety among locals about returning.
In areas where clashes have occurred between the AA and the military council, landmines and unexploded ordnance remain scattered. Locals report that these hazards have caused an increase in disabilities within the community due to accidental detonations.
Moreover, local residents across Rakhine State continue to face challenges related to education, healthcare, steep increases in commodity prices, and limited employment opportunities as a result of the ongoing conflict.
In June 2024, Daw Aye Myat, a 49-year-old woman from Hnget Pyaw Chaung village in the Yoe Chaung area of Kyauktaw Township, stepped on a landmine while gathering bamboo shoots in the forest, resulting in the loss of her leg. Her story reflects the fears among refugees about the potential for further injuries from landmines.
“There is no one in the village to teach the children or provide healthcare services. When we return, there will be no work opportunities, and there may be landmines in the nearby mountains. That is why we are still afraid to go back,” said a displaced person from Yoe Chaung.
In the third week of June, a woman from Myaing Taung village in Rathedaung Township lost one of her legs after a landmine exploded while she was digging in her yard to plant vegetables.
Despite the presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance in AA-controlled areas, some displaced people have managed to return to their villages, according to local sources.
“We are no longer staying in the IDP camp. We have returned to live in our village, though some refugees are still afraid to go back due to landmines near their villages,” said a former resident of Tein Nyo refugee camp in Mrauk U Township.
Currently, the AA continues to launch offensives against military camps in Ann and Maungdaw townships. Due to the increasing number of displaced people, the AA has appealed to domestic and international organizations for humanitarian assistance.
