Mohammed Yaqub, Deputy Governor of Hajjah, expressed deep gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its steadfast support in Yemen, crediting King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the Saudi government for helping communities reclaim their lives in liberated areas.
Hajjah governorate, located in northwestern Yemen, has been one of the areas most heavily contaminated by landmines and improvised explosive devices planted by Houthi militias. Roads, farms, and residential neighborhoods have been littered with hidden explosives, creating a deadly threat to civilians, livestock, and critical infrastructure. Despite repeated clearance efforts, vast areas remain hazardous, with mines found in homes, wells, and agricultural land.
Yaqub said residents are able to live safely and rebuild thanks to Saudi Arabia’s backing and the critical work of Project Masam, the humanitarian mine action initiative clearing deadly explosives across the country. He described Project Masam’s efforts as a “qualitative contribution” that has become a symbol of life and hope in regions once plagued by hidden death.
The Deputy Governor drew a sharp contrast between those who “plant death” and those who “plant life.”
While Houthi militias continue to bury mines and improvised explosives – camouflaged to sow fear and terror, he claimed – Project Masam restores security and provides tangible benefits such as safe land, access to water, education, and health services.
“This is a clear paradox,” Yaqub said. “People in the liberated areas, and across Yemen, are well aware of who brings fear and who brings hope. [Project] Masam frees our land from the death that was planted for us.”
As Project Masam’s demining teams continue their life-saving operations, the partnership between Saudi support and local resilience stands as a testament to the power of humanitarian action in the face of relentless threats.
