Project Masam removes 2,108 landmines in Yemen in one week: January 2026 tally
As part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's ongoing humanitarian efforts to enhance security and stability in the Republic of Yemen, the "Masam" project for clearing Yemeni lands of mines, affiliated with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, continued to achieve tangible field successes. The project revealed the results of its operations during the fourth week of January 2026, announcing the success of its engineering teams in removing 2,108 mines and various types of unexploded ordnance that posed a direct threat to the lives of civilians in several Yemeni governorates.
Details of field operations and figures
Reports from the project's operations room indicated that the materials removed this week included various types of explosives that had been planted randomly. The list included:
- 31 An anti-personnel mine.
- 75 A mine designed to detonate against tanks and heavy equipment.
- 2,000 Unexploded ordnance left over from the war.
- Two high-explosive devices.
The engineering teams' efforts were spread across a wide geographical area encompassing the governorates of Aden, Hodeidah, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Lahj, Marib, and Taiz. In Aden , the Khormaksar district and the city were secured by removing 243 unexploded ordnance. On the western coast, specifically in Hodeidah , the teams intensified their efforts in the districts of Hays and Al Khawkhah, successfully removing 607 anti-tank mines and other unexploded ordnance.
In Hadramawt , Al-Mukalla District recorded a record number of clearances, with 1,100 explosive devices, including mines and unexploded ordnance, removed. In Hajjah the removal of 115 mines and unexploded ordnance. Meanwhile, teams continued their work in Al-Mudharabah District of Lahj , Ragwan District of Ma'rib , and Dhubab and Saluh Districts of Taiz , achieving high levels of safety for residents.
The context of the crisis and the importance of the Masam project
These efforts come within a complex context in Yemen, where the landmine problem is one of the most serious challenges facing the country and hindering the return to normalcy. Historically, Yemen has suffered from the indiscriminate and unmapped planting of landmines, turning farms, schools, water sources, and public roads into death traps that threaten innocent civilians, especially children, women, and the elderly.
The “Masam” project has significant strategic and humanitarian importance that goes beyond simply removing explosives; it represents a lifeline that paves the way for the passage of humanitarian aid, and contributes to economic development by enabling farmers to return to their lands safely, in addition to its pivotal role in creating the conditions for the return of displaced persons to their homes, which they were forced to leave due to fear.
Cumulative achievements that foster hope
With the conclusion of operations during the fourth week of January, the total number of mines removed during that month rose to 2,862 . This latest achievement brings the total number of mines and unexploded ordnance cleared since the launch of the MASAM project to 534,813 .
These huge numbers reflect the scale of the disaster that was averted in Yemen, and confirm the firm commitment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through its humanitarian arm, the King Salman Relief Center, to stand by the brotherly Yemeni people, to ensure their right to live a decent and safe life free from fear.
