The military junta and armed groups in Myanmar have turned the country into the world’s deadliest landmine zone. With a 38% funding gap in mine-clearing efforts, civilians remain trapped in a growing humanitarian crisis.
BY Navin Upadhyay
Myanmar has tragically become the global epicenter of landmine and explosive ordnance casualties, a grim testament to the devastating impact of the nation’s protracted conflict.
According to the latest humanitarian update from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA Myanmar, in 2023, the war-ravaged country experienced a significant surge in landmine and explosive ordnance incidents, recording 1,003 casualties—the highest globally, surpassing countries like Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.
This alarming increase is attributed to intensified conflicts following the military coup in 2021, with both the military junta and various armed groups extensively deploying landmines. The pervasive presence of these hidden dangers not only endangers civilian lives but also hampers agricultural activities and displaces communities, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and instability. Despite the critical need for mine action, efforts remain severely underfunded, covering only 38% of the required amount in 2024, hindering effective responses to this escalating crisis.
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According to the OCHA report, “Myanmar is currently at the global epicenter for landmine incidents,” a stark reality underscored by the fact that the country experienced “the highest number of landmine casualties globally in 2023.”
In Maungdaw Township, Arakan land, the Arakan Army has discovered 1,025 landmines during a two-month-long demining operation aimed at ensuring the safety of local residents. pic.twitter.com/TEcrMrft4d
— Maung Khin Zaw (@MaungKhinZaw4) February 18, 2025
This grim statistic is not merely a number; it represents the shattered lives and enduring trauma inflicted upon countless individuals and communities. The increased use of landmines by both the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and various non-state armed groups has transformed everyday life into a perilous gamble, with fields, roads, and even residential areas becoming potential death traps.
The insidious nature of landmines extends beyond immediate casualties. “The persistent threat posed by these devices not only endangers lives, but also severely disrupts agricultural activities and displaces communities, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and instability,”
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Farmers, who form the backbone of Myanmar’s economy, are forced to abandon their fields, fearing the hidden dangers lurking beneath the soil. This disruption in agricultural production exacerbates existing food insecurity, creating a vicious cycle of hunger and hardship. Furthermore, entire communities are forced to flee their homes, seeking refuge from the omnipresent threat of explosions, leading to mass displacement and the breakdown of social structures.
One Killed, Four Injured in Landmine Explosion in Kyaikmaraw Township | Burma News International
A landmine explosion in Pauktaw Village, Kunngan Village Tract, Kyaikmaraw Township, Mon State, has left one man dead and four others injured, according to local sources.
The… pic.twitter.com/Epr4WlCoGv
— Burma News International (@bnionline1) February 21, 2025
The challenge of addressing the landmine crisis is compounded by severe underfunding. “Despite the critical needs associated with landmines and explosive ordnance contamination, Myanmar´s mine action response is severely underfunded, covering only 38 per cent of the required amount in 2024,” the report reveals.
This funding gap has dire consequences, hindering the ability of local and international organizations to implement effective mine risk education programs and provide crucial support to victims.
Mine risk education is vital for preventing further casualties, as it empowers communities with the knowledge and skills to identify and avoid hazardous areas. However, without adequate funding, these programs cannot reach the most vulnerable populations, leaving them exposed to the deadly consequences of landmines.
The urgent need for international recognition and support is paramount. “Civilians in Myanmar need the international community to recognize the urgency of the country’s landmine issue and increase support to address both the immediate and long-term challenges,” the report emphasizes. “Increased funding for mine action is critical to improving mine risk education and supporting the victims of landmines.”
The protection of civilians is further compromised by recurring reports of airstrikes, shelling, and drone attacks. The report highlights the indiscriminate nature of these attacks, which often target civilian areas and infrastructure. “Civilians, aid workers, and critical infrastructure, including homes, schools, hospitals, and religious structures, must not be targets in conflict and must be protected in accordance with legal obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law,” it states.
The ongoing conflict has also severely restricted the movement of humanitarian supplies. Roadblocks, checkpoints, and security risks have created significant obstacles to delivering essential aid to those in need. Despite these challenges, humanitarian actors have made significant efforts to reach vulnerable populations.
“Recently, humanitarian supplies successfully reached the capital of Kachin, while other supplies are expected soon to reach Rakhine, with the facilitation of various stakeholders at national and subnational level,” the report notes. “The transportation from Mandalay to Kachin was the largest UN humanitarian convoy on this route since 2016.”
However, these efforts are hampered by severe underfunding. “As of 12 February 2025, funding for the 2024 Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan had reached $389 million, only 39 per cent of the funding requested,” the report states. “This meant that 1.1 million highly vulnerable people targeted for assistance were not reached.”
