Bu Ri, 88, lost his leg to a land mine in Myanmar decades ago. His grandson John New Min stepped on another mine in September 2023, losing his leg and eyesight, becoming the seventh family member injured or killed by explosives. The family's tragedy illustrates the human cost of Myanmar's escalating conflict, where both military and rebel forces plant mines in populated areas.

Myanmar recorded 2,029 mine casualties in 2024, the highest globally for the second straight year. The crisis intensified after the 2021 military coup, which sparked armed resistance across ethnic states including Karenni. There, the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force battles the junta while civilians face constant danger from unexploded ordnance.

Over half of Karenni State's 450,000 residents have fled their homes, living in displacement camps. Bu Ri and multiple family members now navigate the jungle camp on crutches, their injuries sustained while fighting or clearing mines. The patriarch's grandsons continue demining work despite the risks, reflecting the revolution's human toll.

The mine threat worsens daily as both sides expand planting operations. Banya Khung Aung of the interim revolutionary government warned that demining cannot keep pace with new placements, leaving civilians to navigate increasingly dangerous terrain. International humanitarian organizations face mounting pressure to address this protracted crisis as the conflict enters its sixth year.