Residents demand removal of unexploded ammunition found near Wa Taung IDP camp

Local residents of Kyauk Taw township in Rakhine State demand an immediate removal of  unexploded ammunition which was found near Wa Taung IDP camp.

Those ammunition was recovered from the ground on a hill, which is five furlongs west of  Wa Taung refugee camp, as a woman went there to dig for jungle nuts in July.

U Naing Win Tun, the in-charge person of Wa Taung IDP camp, informed that the large weapon was  partly on the ground.

“No one now dares to go there.  We have warned the villagers not to go that way,” he added.

As it has not exploded,  it may happen if any person touches it.  The relevant authorities of United League of Arakan (ULA) have been approached for removing it as soon as possible.

But even after two  months, none has come forward, he exclaimed.

There are 60 families (380 people) at  Wa Taung IDP camp, who hail from Kyauk Taw and Ponna Kyunt localities.

Residents reveal that those  areas witnessed fierce fighting between the junta forces and Arakan Army members from  2018 to 2020.

No less than 49 residents were killed and more than 70  injured due to the explosion of landmines and remnants of military weapons in Rakhine State in between November 2018 and October 2021.