Masam removes 840 landmines in Yemen in one week, bringing the project's total to over 541,000
The “Masam” project for clearing Yemeni lands of mines, affiliated with the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid, continued to achieve its field accomplishments in protecting civilians and securing populated areas, as the project’s engineering teams were able, during the second week of February 2026, to remove 840 mines, unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices planted randomly in various Yemeni governorates.
Details of field operations and distribution of removed mines
The project's operations room revealed that efforts this week resulted in the removal of a diverse arsenal of explosives, including 16 anti-personnel mines, 149 anti-tank mines, 660 pieces of unexploded ordnance, and 15 improvised explosive devices. These operations were spread across several Yemeni governorates, reflecting the wide deployment of the project's teams and their ability to operate in diverse terrains.
In terms of geographical distribution, Aden Governorate witnessed intensive activity, with unexploded ordnance being removed in the districts of Khormaksar and Aden. In Hajjah Governorate, specifically in the Midi district, the team successfully removed 50 anti-tank mines, 330 pieces of unexploded ordnance, and 9 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), contributing to securing this vital area. Efforts also extended to districts in the governorates of Lahj, Hodeidah, Marib, Shabwa, and Taiz, where vast areas were cleared of deadly traps that posed a threat to the population.
The humanitarian context and the importance of the Masam project
This achievement comes within the framework of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the humanitarian catastrophe caused by landmines in Yemen. Since its launch in mid-2018, Project Masam has served as a protective shield for Yemenis against one of the most dangerous remnants of conflict. These efforts are of paramount importance given that landmines in Yemen were planted indiscriminately and without documentation in residential areas, schools, roads, and water sources, making them a constant threat to the lives of civilians, especially children and women, even after the cessation of hostilities in some areas.
The importance of the project is not limited to the direct security aspect of removing explosives, but extends to include developmental and economic dimensions; clearing the land enables farmers to return to their fields, allows displaced people to return to their homes safely, and opens roads for trade and humanitarian aid, which contributes to moving the wheel of life in the affected areas.
Record numbers reflect the scale of the achievement
By the end of the second week of February, the total number of mines cleared during the month had risen to 4,006. Even more significant is the total number of mines cleared since the project began, reaching 541,511. This staggering figure reflects the scale of the disaster averted, as each mine removed represents a life saved or a limb spared from amputation.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through its humanitarian arm, the King Salman Relief Center, affirms its continued support for the brotherly Yemeni people until all Yemeni lands are cleansed of this imminent danger, so that the Yemeni citizen may enjoy a dignified and safe life, far from the fear of treacherous explosives.
