Woman injured in landmine explosion in Paletwa

A Chin woman and mother of a 3 year-old child has been injured in a landmine explosion near Paletwa Town this morning, the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) reports.

Daw Ma Ni (Age 25) received injuries to the right thigh, arms and face after tripping on a landmine while gathering food in her banana farm just 15-minute walk outside of Paletwa Town at approximately 7 a.m.

Her injuries are described as non-life threatening and is currently being treated at Paletwa General Hospital, according to CHRO sources from Paletwa Town.

So far at least 10 innocent civilians have been reported killed or seriously injured by landmines in the ongoing armed conflicts between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Tatmadaw, according to incidents compiled by CHRO. It is not immediately clear which of the two armed groups laid the landmine in the latest incident.

Paletwa Town hosts over 3000 internally displaced persons from surrounding villages, many of which have been targeted in aerial bombing campaigns and heavy artillery fire by the Tatmadaw as part of the deadly operations against the AA that resulted in the deaths and injuries of dozens of Chin villagers over the past several months.

A town of about 5000 residents, and now hosting conflict victims numbering about half its population size, Paletwa has been effectively under siege in the ongoing fighting. The town is struggling with food shortages and hunger as the only two main physical access to the area remain cut off, making it impossible for humanitarian aid to be delivered.

Internet blackout, imposed some 11 months ago, also remains in effect in the Township due to Tatmadaw’s ongoing military operations against the AA.#