Tree local residents were seriously injured by landmines in June while foraging in the forests near Kamarmaung town and the nearby villages of Wea Pyan and Hpar Baung in Hpapun District – the area administered by the Karen National Union (KNU), according to the Kamarmaung social relief team, which provided assistance to the victims.
On 4 June, a woman from Hpar Baung village, searching for seasonal vegetables in the forest, sustained severe injuries to her arm and thigh from a landmine explosion.
On 17 and 20 June, two men—one from Wea Pyan village and another from Kamarmaung’s Ward No. 4—lost their legs in similar incidents, according to the relief team.
A member of the social relief team said: “All three were those searching for bamboo shoots, wild greens, or mushrooms in the forest. They go out to gather these things to sell at the market for their livelihood. The woman had to have her arm amputated, and her thigh injury is so bad, we don’t know how it’ll be treated. The landmine shredded both her arm and thigh. The two men stepped on mines, and both lost their legs.”
All three victims were rushed to Hpa-An General Hospital for emergency treatment, the relief team said.
Kamarmaung and surrounding areas fall within KNU territory, but they are also frequented by the Border Guard Force (BGF) and military junta troops.
As a result, it remains unclear which group is responsible for planting the landmines.
The KNU Brigade 5 stated last November that landmines are present along the Hpapun- Kamarmaung road, restricting civilian travel.
The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) has also reportedly warned locals about mined areas and issued prohibitions to prevent incidents.
Residents say landmine explosions causing injuries have become frequent in Kamarmaung and nearby villages, forcing them to move cautiously.
In a similar incident in April, three teenage girls were injured by a landmine while at a recreational spot in the middle of Kamarmaung town, sustaining leg injuries.
Sent by KIC.