As part of ongoing humanitarian efforts to secure the lives of civilians in Yemen, the “Masam” project for clearing Yemeni lands of mines announced that its field teams were able to remove 2,108 mines, unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices in just one week, reflecting the scale of the challenges and dangers facing the Yemeni people as a result of widespread mine contamination.
Details of field operations
The items seized and neutralized by the project teams varied, including anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, as well as large quantities of unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices. The project's engineering teams operate according to the highest international standards in surveying, clearing, and destroying these devices to ensure that the danger does not return to the cleared areas and to secure roads, farms, and schools that were previously contaminated with these deadly objects.
The general context and humanitarian role of the "Masam" project
This achievement comes as part of the Masam Project, launched by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) in mid-2018. The project's primary objective is to clear Yemeni lands of landmines and unexploded ordnance, which were planted indiscriminately and without documentation in areas affected by armed conflict. This initiative is considered one of the most important humanitarian initiatives in the region, given the heavy human toll borne by civilians, especially children and women, as a result of frequent explosions.
The importance of land reclamation and its developmental impact
The importance of demining extends far beyond the immediate security benefit of saving lives; it encompasses crucial economic and social dimensions. Mines planted in agricultural lands prevent farmers from cultivating their land, threatening local food security. Similarly, landmines on roads impede the delivery of humanitarian aid and the movement of goods, exacerbating the economic crisis. Therefore, every mine removed represents a step towards restoring normalcy, facilitating the return of displaced persons to their homes, and restarting development in liberated areas.
Overall achievements and facts
Since its inception, the MASAM project has successfully removed hundreds of thousands of mines and unexploded ordnance, clearing millions of square meters of Yemeni land. International reports confirm that Yemen suffers from one of the world's largest mine-related problems, making continued support and funding for demining operations an urgent necessity for the international community and humanitarian organizations to ensure a safe future for generations to come in Yemen.
