Eastern Burma is the most heavily mined area in the world, with approximately 1500 landmine casualties annually, accounting for 5% of deaths. 1 in 1000 residents will experience a landmine injury this year and at least half of these victims will die within the first few hours, before they can reach care. In a small Nonviolence International survey in Karen State in 2003, 80 percent of respondents reported feeling threatened every day by landmines and half had unexpectedly entered mined areas. Villagers also report "atrocity demining" whereby the Burmese Army forces locals to walk in front of soldiers as human minesweepers, often as porters and sometimes dragging a heavy log across the path. Landmines in these areas usually require only 6 kilograms of pressure to be triggered, ensuring that even a child or animal can cause an explosion. Child victims are more likely to die from their injuries as a result of their vital organs' closer proximity to mines and their inability to survive resulting blood loss. For the adults and children that survive the initial blast, rapid access to care is critical. Injuries are severe-- approximately 1 in 3 survivors requires amputation.

GHAP has been providing training in landmine injury management and material support to local health workers who treat approximately 150 landmine victims each year. For several years, GHAP has procured surgical instruments, anesthetics and other supplies, and provided surgical training to over 45 health workers. GHAP also initiated the development of a blood transfusion program that allows blood to be screened for infectious diseases including HIV and other diseases with light, easy-to-use rapid tests, and to be safely transfused in a jungle setting. Because of the high death rate from long transport times, GHAP and its local partner organizations have establish "trauma centers" (specially equipped mobile clinics) that can offer transfusions and other lifesaving emergency care.