Masam removes 839 landmines in Yemen and continues its humanitarian efforts

The Masam Project for clearing Yemeni lands of mines, a humanitarian initiative of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, announced a new milestone in its life-saving mission. Its field teams successfully removed 839 mines and unexploded ordnance during the first week of May. With this achievement, the total number of mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) removed since the project's inception has risen to 558,855, all of which had been indiscriminately planted across various Yemeni governorates.

The week's demining operations were spread across several vital areas, encompassing 95 anti-tank mines, 12 anti-personnel mines, 721 pieces of unexploded ordnance, and 11 improvised explosive devices. These figures reflect the scale of the challenge faced by engineering teams in the field and the significant risks to the lives of innocent civilians.

Background to the landmine crisis in Yemen

The landmine problem in Yemen is one of the most serious consequences of the years-long conflict. According to UN and international reports, the indiscriminate planting of landmines by the Houthi militia has transformed vast areas of farmland, roads, and residential areas into death traps. These mines make no distinction between combatants and civilians, and continue to claim the lives of children, women, and the elderly long after the fighting has ended in those areas, making them a long-term weapon that threatens future generations.

The profound humanitarian impact and efforts of “Masam”

The importance of the Masam project extends far beyond mere demining; it represents a restoration of life and hope for affected communities. Every mine removed means a new, safe path for farmers to reach their fields, a safe route for children to go to school, and an opportunity for displaced families to return home safely. These efforts directly contribute to the revitalization of economic and agricultural activity and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to areas previously isolated by the threat of mines. The work carried out by Masam is a cornerstone of any future reconstruction and stabilization efforts in Yemen.

Details of recent removal operations

Recent field efforts have focused on a number of Yemeni governorates, and the results are as follows:

• Aden Governorate: 242 unexploded ordnance were removed in Aden District.
• Marib Governorate: 12 anti-tank mines and 215 unexploded ordnance were removed in Marib District, an anti-tank mine and 5 pieces of ordnance were removed in Al-Wadi District, and an improvised explosive device was removed in Ragwan District.
• Hajjah Governorate: Teams in Midi District were able to remove 4 anti-personnel mines, 79 anti-tank mines, 91 unexploded ordnance, and 7 improvised explosive devices.
• Taiz Governorate: Two anti-tank mines and 21 unexploded ordnance were removed in Dhubab District, one piece of ordnance in Al-Mukha, and three pieces of ordnance in Al-Qahirah District.
• Other governorates: The operations also included the districts of Al-Khokha and Hays in Al-Hudaydah, Al-Mukalla in Hadramawt, and Qatabah in Al-Dhali’, where mines and various munitions were removed.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through its humanitarian arm, the King Salman Relief Center, continues to support the “Masam” project with the aim of completely clearing Yemeni lands, securing a decent and safe life for the brotherly Yemeni people, and contributing to building a future free from fear.