In Myanmar’s Karenni State, a single extended family has endured a devastating toll from land mines amid ongoing conflict between the military junta and ethnic rebel forces. Since 2022, seven members of the family have either been maimed or killed by land mines planted primarily by the military, underscoring the persistent dangers civilians face in the region.

The most recent casualty, John New Min, lost his right leg and his eyesight in a mine explosion in September 2023 while clearing explosives alongside fellow rebel soldiers. His injury marked the seventh in his family linked to land mines over recent years. The family’s ordeal stretches back more than three decades, beginning with patriarch Bu Ri, 88, who lost his left leg to a land mine in the same area 32 years ago.

Bu Ri and his family live in Karenni State, an eastern region long embroiled in conflict between Myanmar’s military and ethnic insurgents. Since the military coup in 2021, which ousted the democratically elected government and restored military rule, clashes have intensified nationwide. The ensuing armed resistance included formation of local defense forces, such as the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force, which counts several of Bu Ri’s sons and grandsons among its ranks.

The military has employed land mines systematically, planting them near civilian areas including farms, homes, and religious sites. The rebel groups also use mines defensively, though experts note that most casualties have been caused by mines laid by the military. According to a December 2024 report by Landmine Monitor, Myanmar had 2,029 casualties from land mines that year—more than any other country for the second year running. Civilians, including many children, are frequent victims.

In addition to John New Min, his uncle Thin Naw lost a leg to a mine a week earlier while helping with demining efforts. Another cousin, Joseph, lost his left leg after stepping on a mine during a military retreat. The family has been forced to flee their homes multiple times due to ongoing fighting; Bu Ri currently resides in a displaced persons camp, having left behind his prosthetic limb when escaping.

“The land mine threat in Karenni is worsening day by day because demining cannot be fully carried out,” said Banya Khung Aung, secretary of the Karenni State Interim Executive Council, a local revolutionary government. He noted that both the military and rebel forces continue to plant mines, often in areas heavily populated by civilians. To reduce accidents, the Karenni defense force escorts residents travelling through rebel-controlled zones known to be heavily mined.

Despite the heavy costs, Bu Ri’s family remains committed to their cause, believing their losses hold meaning only if the military regime is ultimately defeated. “If the revolution fails, I sometimes wonder whether Karenni State will become a place filled only with people permanently disabled by land mines and haunted by those who were killed,” said Thin Naw.

The ongoing cycle of violence, displacement, and danger from unexploded mines continues to impose a heavy human toll, especially on families like Bu Ri’s, caught in the crossfire of Myanmar’s long-running conflict.