Project Masam for the Cleansing of Yemeni Lands: Achievements April 2026
The Masam Project for clearing Yemeni lands of mines, funded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, continues to achieve exceptional field successes in protecting innocent civilians and securing their livelihoods. During the third week of April 2026, the project's teams were able to remove 1,906 mines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised explosive devices planted indiscriminately in various Yemeni governorates, bringing the total number removed during that month to thousands of mines that posed a direct and ongoing threat to the daily lives of residents.
Weekly tally of demining operations
The mines and munitions removed by MASAM teams during the third week of April included 68 anti-tank mines, 9 anti-personnel mines, 1,815 pieces of unexploded ordnance, and 14 improvised explosive devices. These humanitarian operations covered several vital Yemeni governorates
- Aden Governorate: 3 unexploded ordnance were removed in Khor Maksar District, and 186 unexploded ordnance in Aden District.
- Al Dhale'a Governorate: One unexploded ordnance was removed in Qa'tabah District.
- Al Hudaydah Governorate: The team managed to remove 3 unexploded ordnance in Hays District, and 3 anti-tank mines in Al Khawkhah District.
- Hadhramaut Governorate: Al-Mukalla District witnessed the removal of 3 anti-personnel mines, 4 anti-tank mines, and 1,007 unexploded ordnance.
- Hajjah Governorate: The team in Midi District removed 44 anti-tank mines, 76 unexploded ordnance, and 12 improvised explosive devices.
- Lahj Governorate: Two anti-tank mines were removed in Al-Mudharabah District.
- Marib Governorate: The teams succeeded in removing 3 anti-personnel mines, 12 anti-tank mines, and 500 unexploded ordnance.
- Shabwa Governorate: One unexploded ordnance was removed in Asilan District, two anti-personnel mines in Bayhan District, and two improvised explosive devices in Ain District.
- Taiz Governorate: The team removed an anti-tank mine and 6 unexploded ordnance in Al-Mukha district, two anti-tank mines and 32 unexploded ordnance in Dhubab district, and one anti-personnel mine in Salouh district.
The tragedy of landmines in Yemen: a painful historical and humanitarian background
The landmine crisis in Yemen is one of the greatest humanitarian disasters of modern times, with international reports indicating that more than one million landmines have been planted since the conflict began. Houthi militias have indiscriminately and extensively planted these mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in residential areas, schools, roads, farms, and water sources. This indiscriminate planting has transformed vast swathes of Yemeni land into ticking time bombs, causing thousands of civilian casualties, particularly among children and women, and severely hindering movement, economic development, and agriculture in the country.
The importance of continuing the Masam project to clear Yemeni lands and its regional impact
The Masam project for clearing Yemeni landmines is a lifeline for the Yemeni people, directly contributing to restoring hope and security to local communities. With the number of mines removed reaching 4,545 in April, and the total number removed since the project's launch in 2018 reaching 555,734, the immense humanitarian impact of these efforts is evident.
At the local level, clearing the land allows farmers to return to their fields and children to return to their schools safely, thus supporting social and economic stability. At the regional and international levels, securing Yemeni territory, particularly coastal areas and vital ports, contributes to protecting international shipping lanes and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid and relief, thereby strengthening efforts for peace and overall stability in the region.
