By Macarena Aguilar
As children and women in Kachin learn about the dangers of landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) through Mine Risk Education (MRE) sessions, many are eager to share their new knowledge with their family, friends and others in their community. Read some of their testimonies.
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| Sai Nuu (13) intently reads a cartoon book about landmine safety following the UNICEF and DRC/DDG -supported Mine Risk Education awareness session held at the Maina RC IDP Camp in Waing Maw Township, Kachin. ©UNICEF Myanmar/2018/Nyan Zay Htet |
These sinister devices prevent displaced people from returning home and farmers from working the land. Children going about their day, walking to school, helping in the fields or simply playing often become their victims.
In April 2016, the United Nations Secretary-General attributed half of the child casualties of war in Myanmar to landmines and ERW.
To mark this year’s International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (4 April), UNICEF is focusing on Kachin, one of Myanmar’s most conflict-stricken States and one of the most contaminated with landmines.
In 2017 alone, over 43% of all the mine accidents registered nationwide happened in this northern State bordering China. But more concerning is the data already available for 2018, which shows that only during the first two months of the year, the number of accidents in Kachin had reached a new record placing the State at the top of the list for landmine accidents. A Working Group dedicated to mine action, involving different organizations and chaired by the Department of Social Welfare and the Kachin State Minister of Social Affairs is working tirelessly to curb this.
Lifesaving information
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| Mine Risk Education facilitator, Khong Lan Nin, runs a session at the
village administration office of See Din Yang village, Moe Kaung Township
Kachin State on March 14, 2018. ©UNICEF Myanmar/2018/Nyan Zay Htet |
UNICEF went to see first-hand how children and their families here are equipping themselves with knowledge to stay safer through UNICEF-supported MRE sessions.
In every community and every session that UNICEF attended, we heard from children and mothers about how valuable the new information about landmines was for them. While most knew that landmines were a problem in their area, their variety of shapes, colours and the fact that they can stay buried, yet active, for up to a hundred years, was news to them.
Mine risk education sessions are run by trained facilitators in schools, communities and camps for Internally Displaced People (IDP). They are part of a nationwide effort that has been underway since 2016 thanks to funding from the European Union.
Across the country, so far, over 321,000 children and their families have benefited from this training. In Kachin alone, the number totals 48,000.
Even though mine awareness alone will not be enough to keep everyone in this part of Myanmar safe from the scourge of landmines, it has the potential to significantly reduce the impact of these devastating devices.
Meanwhile, accelerating the removal of mines would provide relief to people in Kachin and across Myanmar.
Sharing is Caring
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| DRC/DDG Mine Risk Education facilitator, Naw Sau, shows children in
Kachin’s Maina RC IDP camp the different types of landmines and ERW they should
beware of. ©UNICEF Myanmar/2018/Nyan Zay Htet |
The first session UNICEF visited was held in a community centre at the Maina RC IDP camp, located in Waing Maw Township, a couple of kilometres from Myitkyina.
In Kachin, 91,000 people have been displaced by the conflict and are sheltering in hundreds of camps and other sites.
When we arrived, the centre was buzzing with children aged 8 to 14. Most have lived in the camp since 2011. It currently houses some 1,800 people.
With colourful flipcharts and a MRE toolkit, Naw Aung, a facilitator from Danish Refugee Council and Danish Demining Group (DRC/DDG), explained to the children how to identify, avoid and report landmines/ERW. The children learned simple rules. If they see something suspicious they should stop, retreat, go home and tell their parents – who should contact local authorities.
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| Sai Nuu (13) holds a cartoon book about landmine safety following the UNICEF and DRC/DDG-supported Mine Risk Education awareness session held at the Maina RC IDP Camp in Waing Maw Township, Kachin. ©UNICEF Myanmar/2018/Nyan Zay Htet |
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| MRE awareness session held at the Maina RC IDP Camp in Kachin, a boy listens carefully to the information shared by DRC/DDG. ©UNICEF Myanmar/2018/Nyan Zay Htet |
Once finished, the children who had stayed glued to their spot for the entire hour, were energized and eager to chat about the new information. What now?
“I will share what I have learned with friends and family,” most said.
In their own words
“After this session, I know what to do if there is a concern about mines. I am so glad that I learned these very important things, which I only vaguely knew about before. I want to go back to my own village, as I will be happier there. If we can go back home, I will share my knowledge about this with other villagers.” Mali Doi Nan (13)
“After the mine risk education awareness, I know more about how to avoid the harmful areas. I will share this with my friends and relatives from my village too.” Htu Mai (12)
“I didn’t know that these mines can stay active under the ground and can even be made from plastic bottles or soft drink cans. After learning about mines I want to help people who are suffering because they got caught in a landmine explosion.” Sut Ta Naw (14)
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“Mines that are left over from war should never be touched as they are very harmful. When I can get back to my village, I will tell my friends that these are very dangerous.” Naw Ring (13)
A Mother’s Instinct
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| Mine Risk Education facilitator, Khong Lan Nin, distributes MRE leaflets to the mothers gathered to participate in an information session in See Din Yang village, Moe Kaung Township Kachin State on March 14, 2018. ©UNICEF Myanmar/2018/Nyan Zay Htet |
We visited another session about an hour’s drive away from Myitkyina, in the village of See Ding Yang. Here, UNICEF’s partner, DRC/DDG, had rallied members of the 300-strong community to attend an awareness session.
As the eagerly anticipated session got underway, the room was packed with mothers holding their babies. Their biggest wish was to protect their children.
As the eagerly anticipated session got underway, the room was packed with mothers holding their babies. Their biggest wish was to protect their children.
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| 58 year old Daw Phan (in centre) shares her experience with landmines with the group during a MRE session being held at the village administration office of See Din Yang village, Moe Kaung Township Kachin State on March 14, 2018. ©UNICEF Myanmar/2018/Nyan Zay Htet |
“Actually, six years ago, a mine exploded just behind me at the Paung Su Bridge as I was passing on a motorcycle,” Daw Phan (58), one of the villagers, shared during the session. Her story brought home how closely everyone lives to the ever-present threat of injury or even death from landmines in Kachin.
This new knowledge that mothers could now use to help protect their children was much-appreciated by those who attended the session. “I know mothers will share this vital information with their kids at home. If they know the dangerous places and can avoid them, their children will be safer,” said DRC/DDG facilitator, Khon Lan Nin.
In their own words
This new knowledge that mothers could now use to help protect their children was much-appreciated by those who attended the session. “I know mothers will share this vital information with their kids at home. If they know the dangerous places and can avoid them, their children will be safer,” said DRC/DDG facilitator, Khon Lan Nin.
In their own words
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“I have heard about mines but I didn’t know that there were so many types and what they looked like. Now that this information has been shared with us, I can share it with my children so that they can avoid these dangerous things.” Daw Hkun Nan (37)
I am from Meikhtela, this is my husband’s village. After I arrived here I heard, for the first time in my life, the sound of a mine explosion and gunshots. I was really afraid. And, I really appreciate that they have explained in detail how to avoid these dangerous things.” Kyi Kyi San (25)
“I wish these mines were gone so that we could work freely and go anywhere. Right now there are a lot of prohibited areas and it’s difficult to work.” Ja Barain (25)
“I work as a firewood collector and farmer so I have to go into the forest. Now I know how to avoid landmines and how to be careful because of the knowledge that was shared with us. I can share this knowledge with my kids at home too.” Daw Phan (58)
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