Landmines pose new threat to Rohingyas
SHAMSUDDIN ILLIUS, from Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar
A new terror has gripped the Rohingya civilians fleeing from the Rakhine state to avoid persecution, as the Myanmar security forces are allegedly planting landmines along Bangladesh border. A large number of Rohingyas, wounded in Myanmar, are entering Bangladesh for the last few days. While most of them have bullet injuries, some have been injured in landmine explosions.
Since Friday, after the attack on Myanmar police outposts and Army base, over 100 wounded Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh. They are undergoing treatment in different hospitals of Chittagong and Coxs Bazar districts.
This correspondent spoke to two landmine-injured Rohingyas, being treated at the Memorial Christian Hospital (MCH) of Dulahazra, in Coxs Bazar, on Tuesday. They said the landmines were planted by the Myanmarese security forces.
When the military attacked our home at around 3am on Friday, we ran to the nearby mosque to take shelter. On the way, I stepped on a landmine and it exploded, said Habibullah, 20, son of Md Elias, a mason hailing from Thongkhali in Maungdaw.
Habiullah sustained injury on the right foot, left hand and the left side of his face. Doctors at the MCH cut off two fingers of the right leg. He was admitted to the MCH on August 26.
I crossed the border in the injured condition and was referred to the MCH by a hospital of Ukhiya. I dont know what has happened to my parents and five sisters, said Habibullah. He is the only son of his parents.
When the military cordoned off our house and set it on fire, I started running. A landmine, planted in front of our house, exploded when I stepped on it and was injured, said Md Jubayer, son of Salim Ullah, a teacher of Khaisapara in Magundaw. Jubayer is undergoing treatment at the MCH. He was wounded
in the left leg. Others were being treated at the Medicines Sans Frontier (MSF) hospital of Ukhiya.
Hafez Harun and Md Yeakub, injured in landmine explosions, died at Ukhiya, in Coxs Bazar, soon after their arrival in Bangladesh, said a Rohingya leader of Kutupalong on
condition of anonymity.
It is alleged that the Myanmar military planted landmines in different areas of the Rakhine State and near the Bangladesh border to control the movement of Rohingyas.
Dr Stephen Kelly, general surgeon of the MCH, told The Independent: Five have been admitted so far. Three had bullet wounds and two were injured in landmine explosions.
The Myanmarese army has laid landmines near the Bangladesh-Naikhonchhroi border pillars 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45. They think Bangladesh is their enemy. So, to stop militants from entering their country, the Myanmarese army laid landmines in July 2017. Now they are setting up more landmines in the Rakhine State. After cleansing the state of Rohingyas, they are planting the landmines. Many innocent Rohingyas are being injured in deadly landmine blasts while crossing the area and the border, said the Rohingya leader.
The Rohingya leader, who is coordinating the treatment of the injured Rohingyas, said: The Rohingyas of the Rakhine State cannot move to many areas near the border, as the military has laid countless of landmines. Three landmine-injured Rohingyas are undergoing treatment in different hospitals.
Lt Col Manjurul Ahsan Khan, BGB-34 Battalion Director, told The Independent that landmines had been planted near the Naikhonchhori border pillars No. 40,42,43,44, and 45 on Myanmarese territory.
Landmines have not been laid in our area. I dont know if they have planted landmines in the Rakhine State. It is their internal mater. Im not aware if any injured victim has entered Bangladesh, he said.
According to figures provided to Al Jazeera by UNICEF, which has been working in collaboration with Myanmars national Mine Risk Working Group, said Myanmar ranks third after Colombia and Afghanistan for the highest landmine casualties in the world.
Myanmar did not sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions, while 162 countries have ratified the international Mine Ban Treaty.
Over 100 injured Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh since Friday. The number keeps increasing with each passing day. Most of them have bullet wounds and some have been injured in landmine explosions.
Some of the injured Rohingyas said the Myanmarese military is laying landmines in Rohingya-prone areas of the Rakhine State.
In all, 19 Rohingyas are undergoing treatment at the CMCH and 32 at private hospitals of Chittagong city, said the Rohingya leader and CMCH sources.
Concealing their identity, 22 injured Rohingyas are being treated at the MSF hospital in Ukhiya, and 11 at private hospitals of Coxs Bazar city.
Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said yesterday (Tuesday) that 5,200 Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh since Friday, following fresh violence in the Rakhine State of Myanmar.
The UNHCRs chief spokesperson, Adrian Edwards, said this at a press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, according to a UNHCR press release.
He also urged the Bangladesh government to open its border for people fleeing the violence in Myanmars Rakhine State.
He said in light of the dramatic worsening of the situation in Myanmars Rakhine State since Friday, the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has communicated to the Government of Bangladesh its readiness to support Bangladesh in helping refugees fleeing across the border.
As of Sunday, it was estimated that some 5,200 people had entered Bangladesh from Myanmar since Thursday. Several thousand were reported to be in locations on the Myanmar side of the border. The UNHCR underscores the UN Secretary-Generals statement of Monday in which he condemned the violence in the Rakhine State, said the press note.
He said on the Bangladesh side of the border some people are in cordoned off areas near the border, and others are mainly in the Kutupalong area. Most of them are women, children and elderly, and there have been reports of wounded people being among them.
He also said aid efforts involving the Bangladesh authorities, local communities, UNHCR partners and NGOs are underway, including providing food, water and medical help to new arrivals. The UNHCR is grateful to the Bangladesh authorities for the support being provided. Rapid needs assessments are being planned. However, with the precarious situation inside Myanmar, we are concerned that the number of people needing help may rise further over the coming days.
The UNHCR is aware of several reported instances of people being prevented from entering Bangladesh. This poses a very grave risk to individuals affected. Bangladesh has hosted refugees from Myanmar for decades, and the UNHCR believes it is of the utmost importance that it continues to allow Rohingyas fleeing violence to seek safety there.
