A recent report by the Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms has highlighted the continued use of landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) against women in civilian environments, describing the overall scale of violations in Yemen as “alarming.”
According to the report, 5,834 violations against women were documented between January 2017 and the end of 2025 across 15 governorates, including killings, injuries, abductions, enforced disappearances, torture, and forced recruitment.
Within these figures, landmines and explosive hazards remain a significant cause of harm. The network verified that at least 274 women have been killed by landmines planted in public roads, residential areas, farmland, grazing areas, and markets – locations central to daily civilian life.
Hundreds more women have been injured, with many suffering permanent disabilities as a result of explosive hazards, including landmines and IEDs.
The highest numbers of landmine-related casualties were recorded in Taiz, Al-Jawf, Hudaydah, and Al-Dhale, reflecting the widespread presence of contamination across multiple governorates.
Project Masam teams are actively working in these areas to address the threat posed by explosive hazards. Since the launch of operations, and up to 13 March 2026, teams have cleared a total of 208,381 explosive hazards across these four governorates.
This includes the following landmine and IED clearance by governorate:
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Taiz: 2,871 anti-personnel mines, 41,617 anti-tank mines, and 2,434 IEDs
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Al-Jawf: 161 anti-personnel mines, 27,668 anti-tank mines, and 858 IEDs
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Al-Hudaydah: 244 anti-personnel mines, 11,636 anti-tank mines, and 310 IEDs
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Al-Dhale: 215 anti-personnel mines, 915 anti-tank mines, and 101 IEDs
These figures highlight the scale of contamination affecting civilian environments and the sustained efforts required to address it.
Commenting on the report findings, Ousama Algosaibi, Managing Director of Project Masam, said: “Behind every figure is a life at risk. The continued presence of landmines and improvised explosive devices in roads, farms, and communities means that civilians – including women and children – remain exposed to daily danger.
“Our teams are working systematically to clear these hazards and make land safe again, but the scale of contamination we are dealing with is vast. Sustained humanitarian mine clearance is essential to protect lives and restore safe access to land across Yemen.”
Project Masam continues to carry out survey and clearance operations across affected governorates, reducing risk to civilians and supporting communities impacted by explosive hazards. In addition to clearance, the organisation implements Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) activities to reduce civilian exposure to explosive hazards and support safer behaviour in affected communities.
Since the start of the project, Project Masam has cleared a total of 548,123 explosive hazards across Yemen, reflecting the scale and sustained impact of humanitarian mine clearance operations nationwide.
