The director of the Yemeni Observation and Documentation Centre for Mines and Unexploded Ordnance in Taiz has said that landmine clearance has largely contributed to bringing life back to normal in several villages and areas affected by landmines.
In a statement, Dr. Fadl Saleh Al-Bukhari, said that the centre is witnessing the positive role played by Project Masam in lessening the number of casualties thanks to the efforts put by the demining teams to remove landmines and explosive devices which constitute a direct threat to civilians’ lives in liberated districts.
Al-Bukhari explained that Taiz has witnessed the largest number of violations by Houthi forces since it the area came under the siege by the militia, including the plantation of landmines.
This, he added, is in addition to the bombardment of residential districts of the city as well as the targeting of innocent civilians – including children.
Al-Bukhari said that the militia’s stationing in the city in 2015 and their planting of landmines and explosive devices in the schools, mosques, fields, roads, and civilians’ homes have caused huge human and material losses in the city.
The director further indicated that most of the landmines documented by the Yemeni Observation and Documentation Centre for Mines and Unexploded Ordnance are made in Iran.
Al-Bukhari pointed out that the militia has developed and laid landmines and explosive devices – some camouflaged – in different shapes and sizes, which the director said made it very difficult for civilians to recognise them.
With regards to the role played by Masam, Al-Bukhari highlighted the importance of the project and called upon the legitimate government of Yemen to do whatever it takes in order to ensure the continuation of the project in Yemen until the last mine is removed given the war has not yet ended and that landmines are everywhere.
