Two Muslim teenagers were killed by the explosion of an unexploded ordnance (UXO), a remnant of past fighting, in Buthidaung Township, Arakan (Rakhine) State.
The incident occurred on October 19, when the teens came across an unexploded rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) while herding buffalos near Htan Shauk Khan Village in Buthidaung Township.
“They were herding buffalos on a farm west of Htan Shauk Khan Village. The RPG warhead went off when they came across it, killing them both. That area had seen heavy fighting before,” said a resident of Buthidaung Township.
The victims were identified as Saik Bullah (15) from Nanwintu Village and Mamouk Faiksan (14) from Kyaukseik Village.
Htan Shauk Khan Village is located near the headquarters of the junta’s Military Operations Command 15 (MOC-15). Locals said the area was the site of fierce clashes between the junta and the Arakan Army (AA) in 2024.
“The mountains near the junta’s MOC-15, along with nearby villages like Atwin Nghetthay, Kanpyin, Kakyetbet, and Myaungnar, are especially dangerous because of landmines. Since the fighting was so intense, there could still be landmines and other unexploded ordnance scattered all over the area,” said another Buthidaung resident.
In a separate incident, a 25-year-old Hindu man lost his right leg after stepping on a landmine in Maungdaw Town’s 4-Mile Ward on October 18.
Many residents of Arakan State rely on the forests and mountains for their livelihoods, often through activities such as collecting firewood and bamboo shoots.
“There have been clashes in Arakan State, so the risk of landmines is still very high. People have to rely on the forest to make a living, even in these dangerous times, which makes things even more worrying. To clear the landmines effectively, international experts, organizations, and the AA need to work together,” said an Arakan State resident.
Locals said the AA has been conducting awareness campaigns and distributing pamphlets about the dangers of landmines and artillery shells, but the effectiveness of these efforts remains limited.
