Mrauk-U's grassroots struggle to make ends meet amid landmine threat

By Admin 23 Jul 2025

DMG Newsroom

23 July 2025, Mrauk-U

The grassroots in Mrauk-U say they are struggling to survive by venturing into the forests to find food and collect bamboo shoots and firewood, despite the dangers of landmines.

The grassroots from Aung Mingalar and Chin Pyan Taw wards are putting themselves in harm's way, knowing that there are landmines and other dangerous remnants of war in the forests where they forage for food.

"The villagers said they found unexploded bombs on a hill west of a pagoda near our neighbourhood when they went to look for vegetables. They informed the Arakan Army about it. Now people don't dare go there anymore," said Daw Mi Mi Htay, a local woman from Chin Pyan Taw Ward.

The hills east of Chin Pyan Taw Ward were occupied by regime troops during the battle for control of Mrauk-U and are littered with landmines and unexploded ordnance, according to locals.

Landmines were also reportedly planted by regime troops in the hills near the Myanmar military's Light Infantry Battalion Nos. 377 and 378, which locals from Aung Mingalar Ward depend on for livelihood. The Arakan Army (AA) has reportedly prohibited local residents from moving around in certain areas due to the high risk of landmines and other remnants of war.

However, for many among the grassroots, livelihoods take precedence over the risk of landmines.

"Most of the people in this neighbourhood make a living by cutting firewood and collecting vegetables from the nearby mountains," said Daw Myint Yi, a local woman from Aung Mingalar Ward. "Some people have fled the war and are now back searching for food. Three people died after stepping on landmines, which is scary for us. But we go to places where we think there are no landmines."

A man and a woman from Mrauk-U's Aung Mingalar Ward were killed in late 2024 after stepping on a landmine near the military's LIB Nos. 377 and 378 while cutting firewood.

Family members of those killed by landmines and other explosive remnants of war, meanwhile, are facing many challenges and are in need of support.

"My wife was the breadwinner in our family. I am a disabled man and cannot work. When my wife died in a landmine blast, our family was devastated," said Ko Maung Thein Sein, the husband of a woman who died after stepping on a landmine in Aung Mingalar Ward.

U Maung Thein Sein's wife, Daw Ma Phyu Chay, died in November 2024 after stepping on a landmine while going to the forest to cut firewood to support her family.

Daw Ma Phyu Chay is survived by four children, aged 5 to 19, and her husband, who is unable to work due to a disease that has affected his leg.

Since the conflict between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army began, many locals in Arakan State have suffered from acute food and job shortages amid rising prices.