Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam clears 384 mines in Yemen
In a recent report, it has been revealed that Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam successfully cleared 384 mines in Yemen, all of which were planted by the Houthi militia. The demining operations took place between March 30 to April 5, with the Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief overseeing the project.
Threats to civilians
The explosives, planted indiscriminately by the Houthis across Yemen, posed a serious threat to civilians, including vulnerable populations such as children, women, and the elderly. The special teams of Project Masam were able to destroy 300 items of unexploded ordnance, 75 anti-tank mines, eight improvised explosive devices, and one anti-personnel mine.
Significant impact
Since the start of the initiative in 2018, a total of 436,759 mines have been cleared, according to Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the project’s managing director. The initiative not only focuses on demining operations but also trains local engineers and provides them with modern equipment. Additionally, support is offered to those injured by the devices.
Humanitarian crisis in Yemen
The conflict in Yemen has forced about 5 million people to flee their homes, with many displaced due to the presence of land mines. Masam teams are working tirelessly to clear villages, roads, and schools in order to facilitate the safe movement of civilians and the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid.