Mokhtar Mohamed Ali Farag is a Yemeni civilian living in Dhubab in the district of Yemen’s Bab al-Mandab.
When Project Masam spoke to Mokhtar, the young man said he was relieved after the project succeeded in clearing landmines in both land and sea in several Yemeni regions.
Mokhtar said both he and his fellow fishermen were terrorised by the presence of landmines – and fishing had become fraught with danger due to the presence of these mines.
As a fisherman, Mokhtar used to safely sail in the sea, fish, and return with all that his family needed. The young man was fully acquainted with the dangers of the sea but had not learned how to deal with landmines planted of its shores and beds. Because of fear, Mokhtar became unable to practice his profession.
After local reports, Project Masam teams were dispatched to the area to comb the sea shores that had been extensively planted with landmines. They removed a large number of explosive devices, effectively clearing the area from deadly items.
Mokhtar and his fellow fishermen lauded Project Masam’s successful removal and clearance, which they said made them feel safe again in an area so crucial to them and their livelihoods. Soon, they were able to resume fishing with great enthusiasm and without fear.
