A 50-year-old woman lost her leg after stepping on a landmine while foraging for vegetables in Hsihseng Township, southern Shan State, underscoring the ongoing danger posed by unexploded ordnance (UXO) in former conflict zones.

The incident occurred at around 2:00 p.m. on April 5, 2026, near Tabet Stream in Tabet village, Shwe Ta Gu tract, where the woman reportedly triggered an explosive remnant of war while gathering wild vegetables.

“Very few people have traveled to that area since the fighting ended. She went to the stream to pick vegetables and stepped on a mine. Now she has lost a leg. She has four children who depend on her, and the future for that family is very uncertain,” a local woman told SHAN.

Shwe Ta Gu, where the incident occurred, is a small settlement with only a handful of households. Residents say only a limited number of people have returned following earlier displacement caused by fighting.

Despite the cessation of major hostilities nearly two years ago, landmines and unexploded ordnance remain widespread in the area, posing a persistent threat to civilians.

Residents are calling on the Pa-O National Organization (PNO), which operates under the military regime, to carry out systematic demining operations and provide mine risk education to local communities.

“The fighting ended a long time ago, but no reconstruction or rehabilitation has taken place. People are returning home, but they live in constant fear of landmines. We must be extremely careful when going to the farms. We want the PNO to come and clear these areas and educate the community about mine risks,” said a 30-year-old resident.

Community leaders are urging residents to avoid former battlegrounds and to report any suspicious objects to authorities rather than attempting to handle them.

Local sources say the majority of landmine victims in Hsihseng are elderly people and children. While older residents are often injured during daily work, children are particularly vulnerable due to their tendency to mistake unexploded devices for harmless objects.

The threat is not limited to rural areas. In June 2024, a 70-year-old woman in Mya Kan Tha Ward was seriously injured by a landmine while cleaning her home after returning from displacement.

The contamination stems from heavy fighting that erupted on January 12, 2023, during clashes between the Military Council and the Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLA), leaving large areas of Hsihseng contaminated with explosive remnants of war.

Residents warn that without urgent clearance efforts, the legacy of conflict will continue to endanger lives long after the fighting has ended.