Project Masam has announced that its demining teams have now located and cleared 544,187 landmines and explosive threats across Yemen’s liberated areas since operations began in July 2018, according to the latest weekly report covering activities up to 20 February 2026.
The cumulative clearance includes 7,092 anti-personnel mines, 150,435 anti-tank mines, 378,257 items of unexploded ordnance, and 8,403 improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Through these operations, more than 77,937,620 square metres of land have been made safe for civilian use, supporting safer returns, livelihoods, and humanitarian access across multiple governorates.
Since the escalation of the conflict in 2014, large areas of Yemen have been contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants of war, particularly in formerly contested and strategically significant regions. Estimates indicate that between one and two million mines were laid nationwide by Houthis, creating long-term risks for civilians, agriculture, infrastructure, and humanitarian operations.
During the most recent reporting week (14-20 February 2026), Project Masam teams cleared 2,676 explosive devices, including 17 anti-personnel mines, 149 anti-tank mines, 2,484 items of unexploded ordnance, and 26 IEDs. Over the same period, 91,187 square metres of land were secured despite challenging terrain and security constraints in several locations.
Project Masam continues to prioritise the clearance of villages, agricultural land, schools, infrastructure, and access routes to enable safer movement for civilians and humanitarian workers.
Up to five million Yemenis have been displaced since the start of the war, many forced from their homes not only by active fighting but also by widespread landmine contamination. Seasonal sandstorms, shifting frontlines, and restricted access in heavily contaminated areas continue to complicate clearance efforts. Despite these challenges, Project Masam remains committed to protecting lives and supporting Yemen’s recovery through sustained humanitarian mine action.
