{"id":48705,"date":"2024-11-22T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-22T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/children-and-amputees-bear-brunt-of-myanmars-deadly-landmine-epidemic\/"},"modified":"2024-11-22T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-11-22T12:00:00","slug":"children-and-amputees-bear-brunt-of-myanmars-deadly-landmine-epidemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/?p=48705","title":{"rendered":"Children and amputees bear brunt of Myanmar\u2019s deadly landmine epidemic"},"content":{"rendered":"
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However, the grim statistic is just the surface of a larger crisis, independent human rights experts warned on Friday, as the military junta intensifies its attacks on civilians, including persons with disabilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe junta is doubling the impact of its extensive use of landmines to crush nationwide resistance<\/strong>,\u201d said Tom Andrews, Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, and Heba Hagrass Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities.<\/p>\n
They highlighted egregious violations, including forcing civilians to walk through minefields ahead of military units and systematically denying victims access to life-saving aid such as medical care and prosthetics. \u00a0<\/p>\n
These actions, they emphasised, are \u201cabsolutely contrary\u201d to international laws,<\/strong> including Article 11 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and UN Security Council resolution 2475 on protecting persons with disabilities in war.<\/p>\n
Children most affected<\/h2>\n
The impact of landmines and unexploded ordnance is particularly severe on Myanmar\u2019s children, with UNICEF data released earlier this year revealing that over 20 per cent of the 1,052 verified civilian casualties from such incidents in 2023 were children.<\/p>\n
This was a significant rise from 2022, when 390 incidents were recorded.<\/p>\n
Children are particularly vulnerable to landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO), often unable to recognise their dangers.<\/p>\n
In addition, the indiscriminate placement of these deadly weapons in and around homes, schools, playgrounds, and farming areas, puts children at constant risk.<\/p>\n
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A child who lost his left leg after accidentally stepping on a landmine in his family’s paddy fields in central Myanmar.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Victims facing criminalisation<\/h2>\n
The consequences for landmine victims extend beyond physical injuries.<\/p>\n
Amputees, already grappling with life-altering trauma, are being criminalised by the junta, which associates missing limbs with resistance activity.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow amputees are being forced into hiding to avoid harassment and arrest. Losing a limb is being seen as evidence of a crime<\/strong>,\u201d the experts said.<\/p>\n
Reality far worse<\/h2>\n
Amidst the dire picture, the reality is even worse for landmine victims and their families.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was heartbroken talking with a young woman who had lost her leg after stepping on a landmine<\/strong> near her home,\u201d Mr. Andrews said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I was infuriated when her doctor told me that she had no hope of securing a prosthesis because junta forces were blocking access to the materials necessary to build one<\/strong>,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Call for action<\/h2>\n
Mr. Andrews and Ms. Hagrass urged UN Member States to take coordinated measures to weaken the military junta\u2019s ability to harm civilians.<\/p>\n
They also called on all parties to the conflict in Myanmar to immediately stop laying landmines and begin removing them without delay.<\/p>\nRelated interview: Independent rights expert urges stronger, coordinated actions against Myanmar junta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Special Rapporteurs are independent human rights experts, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council as part of its Special Procedures. They are mandated to monitor and report on specific thematic issues or country situations and work on a voluntary basis.<\/p>\n
They serve in their individual capacity, are not UN staff and do not receive a salary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n