Humanitarian Disarmament in Myanmar
The landmine problem in Myanmar is the result of decades of post-independence struggles for autonomy by ethnic minorities.
MBT : not a state party.
CCM : not a state party.
All parties in the conflict, including the Myanmar armed forces and various non-state actors, have used landmines. The extent of contamination is not fully known, nor the total number of casualties. However, the numbers are likely to be in the thousands.
Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) began its Humanitarian Disarmament engagement in Myanmar in 2012. The NPA Humanitarian Disarmament Programme in Myanmar is currently conducting a non-technical survey ( NTS ).
Although there are no official accident statistics available in Myanmar, the Landmine Monitor reported 106 casualties in 2012 and 381 casualties in 2011 - it is assumed that large amounts of unreported accidents take place every year.
NPA is also assisting in the capacity building of national authorities, and has so far facilitated the drafting of national mine action standards, and assisted with the development of a national Humanitarian Disarmament strategy.
Donors:
The European Union and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Approximately 500,000 people are internally displaced due to conflict in eastern Myanmar, with an additional 140,000 refugees in camps in Thailand.
NPA has been working in Myanmar since 2004 with long term development activities.
Myanmar, according the Landmine Monitor, is also affected by explosive remnants of war (ERW), including mortars, grenades, artillery and ordnance dating back to World War II.
Norwegian People's Aid works to strengthen civil society by promoting the development of local organizations and to support their efforts to improve living conditions in the communities where they are active.