KSrelief’s Masam Project dismantles 625 Houthi mines across Yemen in one week

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) took a week to dismantle 625 mines laid across Yemen by the Iran-backed Houthi militia, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. The clearance was conducted by special teams from the Masam Project.

The operation brought the total number of dismantled mines since the project’s inception to 408,633, including the 456 unexploded ordnance items, 146 anti-tank mines, 22 anti-personnel mines and one explosive device cleared at the end of July.

The SPA statement highlighted the Kingdom’s commitment to clearing Yemeni lands of mines and helping the people there live a dignified life. The Masam Project was launched in June 2018 with the aim of controlling the humanitarian catastrophe caused by mines in Yemen.

Masam Experts Helping Reduce Number Of Mine Victims In Yemen

The number of indiscriminately planted mines has reached hundreds of thousands. Despite the presence of senior demining experts with knowledge of camouflaged mines, at least 30 Masam personnel have been killed since 2018, underscoring the risks involved.

The project has substantially contributed to reducing the number of mine victims in Yemen. According to the American Centre for Justice, about 2,526 civilians got killed between June 2014 to February 2022 in 17 Yemeni governorates. Over 3,200 others sustained injuries.

Nearly 75% of these victims have been permanently maimed or disfigured. The unofficial organisation’s “Mines: The Blind Killer” report documents the destruction of about 425 different private means of transportation completely and 163 partially due to landmines.