SEOUL, November 22 (AJP) - Myanmar recorded 1,003 confirmed landmine and explosive casualties in 2023, surpassing Syria (933), Afghanistan (651), and Ukraine (580) to become the world's most affected country, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) reported on Thursday.
The actual number could be significantly higher due to limited access and lack of medical monitoring systems in the conflict-torn nation, ICBL officials told reporters. "How many more? Double? Triple? That's quite possible," an ICBL representative said, highlighting the absence of official medical surveillance systems.
The report revealed increased use of antipersonnel mines by the military government, including placement near civilian infrastructure such as telecommunications towers and oil and gas pipelines. ICBL documented evidence of the military forcing civilians to act as human shields, pushing them into minefields for "clearance."
UNICEF previously reported 1,052 civilian mine casualties in Myanmar last year, noting indiscriminate use of mines by all parties in the conflict. Globally, landmines and unexploded ordnance caused 5,757 casualties in 2023, including 1,983 deaths.
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