Houthi mines and floods: A double disaster deepens the suffering of Yemenis

Introduction: A double humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen

Yemenis are living through a bitter reality where natural disasters intertwine with the remnants of war. Houthi landmines, swept away by floods, now pose a deadly threat, deepening the suffering of those affected. With the arrival of the heavy rainy season, the torrential floods, once a blessing awaited by farmers, have become carriers of death, sweeping landmines and improvised explosive devices from military front lines into residential villages, farms, and public roads, thus exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the country.

Historical context: Indiscriminate landmine planting

Since the outbreak of armed conflict in Yemen in late 2014, the Houthi group has planted hundreds of thousands of anti-personnel and anti-vehicle landmines in various Yemeni governorates, including Taiz, Hodeidah, Marib, and Shabwa. International and local reports indicate that Yemen has witnessed the largest landmine-laying operation since World War II. These mines were planted indiscriminately and without clear maps, making their removal extremely complex. These practices constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the Ottawa Treaty, which prohibits the use, stockpiling, and production of anti-personnel mines.

Flood impact: Transferring danger to safe areas

Climate change and the devastating seasonal floods that plague Yemen are a major factor exacerbating the landmine crisis. These floods not only destroy infrastructure and camps for displaced people, but also sweep landmines from mountainous areas and valleys that were already known minefields, depositing them in areas previously considered safe. This indiscriminate movement of landmines claims the lives of innocent civilians, particularly children, women, and farmers who are often surprised to find these deadly devices in their fields or near their homes.

Local, regional and international repercussions

At the local level, landmines washed away by floods have hampered movement, prevented aid from reaching affected areas, and deprived thousands of farmers of access to their land, threatening food security and exacerbating poverty and famine. Statistics from the Yemeni Mine Observatory indicate that dozens of victims are recorded annually due to this phenomenon, with many losing limbs and requiring long-term medical and psychological care, placing immense pressure on Yemen's already collapsing health sector. This has also led to new waves of displacement as people flee the imminent threat of death.

At the regional and international levels, this disaster exacerbates the burdens placed on humanitarian organizations and regional and international demining projects, such as the Saudi Project MASAM, which is making tremendous efforts to clear Yemeni lands. The United Nations and the international community consistently call for an immediate halt to landmine planting and the provision of accurate maps of mine locations to facilitate the work of engineering teams and protect civilian lives.

a summary

The concerted efforts of the international community are more urgent than ever to pressure all parties involved to cease landmine planting and to increase financial and technical support for mine risk education and clearance programs. Without a fundamental solution to this problem, floods in Yemen will continue to bring death instead of life, and the suffering of millions of Yemenis facing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises will persist.