Project Masam removes 1,590 landmines from Yemeni lands in one week
As part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s pioneering humanitarian efforts, the Masam Project for clearing Yemeni lands of mines, affiliated with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, achieved a new milestone during the third week of May. Engineering teams successfully removed 1,590 mines and unexploded ordnance from various areas, reflecting the ongoing commitment to protecting the lives of innocent civilians and providing them with a safe environment.
The roots of the crisis: indiscriminate landmine planting and its consequences
The landmine crisis in Yemen dates back to the beginning of the armed conflict, with hundreds of thousands of landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) being planted indiscriminately and on an unprecedented scale in villages, farms, schools, and even public roads. These practices have transformed vast areas of Yemeni land into hidden death traps, resulting in thousands of civilian casualties, mostly women, children, and the elderly. This crisis has become a major obstacle to the delivery of humanitarian aid and the return of displaced persons to their homes, necessitating urgent international and humanitarian intervention to save lives.
Field achievements of the Masam project during the week
In response to this dire crisis, the MASAM project their tireless work, removing a variety of mines this week, including 113 anti-tank mines, 11 anti-personnel mines, 1,461 unexploded ordnance, and 5 improvised explosive devices. These operations were carried out across several vital Yemeni governorates.
Clearing the Yemeni governorates step by step
In Aden Governorate, one anti-personnel mine and 249 pieces of unexploded ordnance were removed. In Qa'tabah District, Al Dhale' Governorate, two anti-personnel mines were dismantled. In Al Hudaydah Governorate, specifically in Al Khawkhah District, one anti-tank mine was removed. Efforts extended to Al Mukalla District, Hadramawt Governorate, where four anti-personnel mines and 1,002 pieces of unexploded ordnance were removed. In Hajjah Governorate (Midi District), teams removed three anti-personnel mines, 107 anti-tank mines, 119 pieces of unexploded ordnance, and five improvised explosive devices. In Al Mudharabah District, Lahj Governorate, three anti-tank mines and 24 pieces of unexploded ordnance were removed. In Ma'rib, Shabwah, and Taiz, teams continued to remove dozens of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines and ordnance, contributing to securing these vital areas.
The humanitarian and strategic dimensions of clearing Yemeni lands
The importance of the Masam project beyond its local role of saving lives and restoring normalcy to Yemeni villages and farms; it encompasses crucial regional and international dimensions. Locally, clearing the land allows hundreds of thousands of displaced people to return and agricultural and commercial activities to resume. Regionally and internationally, securing coastal governorates like Hodeidah and Hajjah directly contributes to protecting maritime shipping lanes in the Red Sea from the threat of sea and land mines that could be swept away by floods, thus enhancing the security and stability of the entire region.
An exceptional outcome that reflects the Kingdom's humanitarian commitment
With these new figures, the total number of mines removed since the beginning of May has risen to 4,714. This brings the cumulative number of mines and explosive devices the MASAM project since its inception to 562,730. This exceptional achievement underscores the continued commitment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, to dedicate all its resources to enabling the Yemeni people to live in a safe and dignified environment, free from the threats that jeopardize their lives and the future of their generations.
