Naung Min Thu, Narinjara News, 12 February 2025 

The Arakan Army (AA) has recently removed no fewer than 30 landmines from villages and wards occupied by Muslims, including Shwe Zar Gone Nar village close to Maungdaw Town, where landmine detonations have led to fatalities and injuries. 

Local residents reported that the AA started removing landmines in the villages during the second week of February after a string of explosions in Shwe Zar Gone Nar village, where junta forces had laid the mines. 

"The AA permitted locals to go back to Muslim villages close to Maungdaw Town on January 25. Since January 29, there have been four landmine blasts in Shwe Zar Gone Nar village, resulting in the death of one child and four others losing their legs. On February 10, the AA began removing landmines in the villages and wards where Muslims were permitted to come back, such as Gone Nar village. Thus far, over 30 landmines have been eliminated,” stated a community member. 

The AA removed more than 30 landmines placed by junta forces in the villages of Kan Paing Nar, Kat Bay, and Zay Din Pyin, as well as in residential areas and along roads in La Thar ward and Italia villages. This also encompasses Gone Nar village within the Shwe Zar village tract close to Maungdaw Town, where the highest number of landmine detonations have taken place. 

From January 29 to February 12, there were four landmine blasts in Shwe Zar Gone Nar village, resulting in four villagers being critically hurt and the death of one child. 

According to local residents, on February 8, 2025, around 2:10 pm, a man sustained serious injuries to his right leg and eye after stepping on a landmine left by junta forces while he was cleaning the health clinic area in front of the primary school in 3-mile Wai Thar Li ward. 

On December 8, 2024, the AA completely seized Maungdaw Township and conducted multiple landmine removal operations. In spite of these initiatives, civilians still face fatalities and injuries from landmines and various explosive remnants of war.