A young man sustained injuries when a leftover bomb, abandoned on a house's roof, fell and detonated in Minbya Town, Arakan State.

The victim is 14-year-old Maung Aung Min Htay, who lives in Shwe Min Gan, Zay Haung Pine Ward, Minbya Township.

Maung Aung Min Htay was at a relative's home at approximately 10 a.m. on March 4 when a leftover bomb dropped from the ceiling and detonated, causing him injuries.

"No one was aware that the bomb was on the roof. It was likely a remnant from the fight to seize Minbya Town. It dropped while the children were playing," remarked a nearby resident.

The blast resulted in Maung Aung Min Htay sustaining severe shrapnel wounds to his left thigh and right arm.

He is presently in critical condition and has been transported to the hospital for care.

A local inhabitant suggested that the bomb might be leftover from the conflict prior to the Arakan Army (AA) taking control of all junta camps in Minbya Township on February 6, 2024.

Ko Hein Min Zaw, a resident of Minbya Township, highlighted the importance of increasing awareness initiatives since life-threatening leftover bombs are still present in numerous regions of Arakan State, resulting in injuries to local people, including children.

"Examining the fatalities caused by unexploded bombs reveals that numerous children are affected. Parents must be alerted to the risks posed by leftover landmines and bombs, and that increased awareness campaigns regarding these hazards should be conducted in every township and village," he stated.

In similar incidents, on February 9, at approximately noon, 6-year-old Maung Nay Soe Thu from Thein Taung Ward, Taungup Township, Arakan State, sustained injuries when a leftover bomb he was handling slipped from his grip and detonated.

Likewise, on February 12, at approximately 3 pm, a leftover bomb detonated while being handled in Gyin Dway village, Pauktaw Township, resulting in the deaths of three local teenagers and injuring three others, one of whom was a girl.

On the afternoon of February 3, a leftover bomb detonated while two children were playing with it in Taing Kyoe village, Gwa Township, Arakan State. The blast resulted in the deaths of a 5-year-old boy, a 20-year-old girl, and her father, Ko Gwa To, aged 40, while another child and an adult were injured.

Likewise, on January 18, a young boy from Kin Pon village close to Kan Thar Yar beach in Gwa Township passed away after handling an unexploded bomb.

The Arakan Army (AA) persists in carrying out landmine removal, awareness initiatives, distributing pamphlets, and placing warning signs in regions they oversee to remove explosive remnants of war and the hazards posed by landmines.