MASAM removes 1,033 landmines in Yemen, raising the total to 527,000
As part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people, 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 first week of December 2025. The project’s field teams successfully removed a total of 1,033 mines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that had been planted in various areas across Yemeni governorates, posing a direct threat to the lives of civilians.
In detail, the field operations revealed a variety of ordnance that the engineering teams successfully neutralized, including 6 anti-personnel mines, 62 anti-tank mines, 960 pieces of unexploded ordnance, and 5 improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These operations were conducted across several governorates, reflecting the project's broad geographical reach. In Hajjah Governorate, specifically in the Midi District, 35 anti-tank mines, 46 pieces of unexploded ordnance, and 5 IEDs were removed. In Lahj Governorate, the teams cleared the Tuban and Al-Mudharabah Districts of a number of unexploded ordnance.
In Aden Governorate, operations were intensive, with 451 pieces of unexploded ordnance removed. Teams continued their work in Marib Governorate, removing 27 anti-tank mines and more than 430 pieces of unexploded ordnance in the Marib and Raghwan districts. Efforts also extended to Shabwa Governorate in the Ain and Usaylan districts, and Taiz Governorate in the Mocha, Dhubab, and Saluh districts, securing large areas by clearing mines and unexploded ordnance that had threatened local residents.
Project importance and humanitarian context
This achievement brings the total number of mines removed since the launch of the MASAM project to 527,493. These figures are particularly significant given the broader context of the Yemeni crisis, where militias have indiscriminately and extensively planted mines in residential areas, roads, farms, and schools, turning the lives of millions of Yemenis into a daily nightmare. These mines are among the most significant obstacles preventing the return of displaced persons to their homes, hindering development and agriculture, and causing permanent disabilities and loss of life, especially among women, children, and the elderly.
The importance of the “Masam” project extends beyond the digital realm; it represents a fundamental pillar of human security in Yemen. Every mine removed means saving an innocent life, enabling a family to return home, and allowing a farmer to cultivate his land safely. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through its humanitarian arm, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, continues to dedicate all its material and technical resources to supporting this vital project, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to standing with the Yemeni people and providing a safe environment that guarantees them a life of dignity and peace, free from the dangers of explosives.
