A civilian has been killed by a landmine explosion in northern Yemen as he was returning to the country ahead of the month of Ramadan.
Since the conflict between Yemen’s pro-government forces and Houthi militias escalated in 2014, liberated strategic areas have been left littered with anti-personnel mines and anti-tank mines, along with unexploded explosive remnants of war (ERW).
Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al-Abraqi, 32, from Amran governorate in northern Yemen, was killed in a blast on a desert road in the north of Al-Jawf governorate, following his return from neighbouring Saudi Arabia to spend the holy month of Ramadan with his family.
The young man had left Yemen a few years ago to work in Saudi Arabia to provide a better life for his family, and this was his first trip back to visit home.
With the month of Ramadan approaching, Ahmed decided to return to Yemen with gifts for his children and family.
The landmine exploded under the car Ahmed was travelling in, in the Al-Yatma area, killing him instantly, and injuring four other civilians, one of whom is in a critical condition.
Ahmed’s story sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many expressing their sadness and anger at the tragedy.
Activists called for stopping the war in Yemen, opening roads for travellers, and clearing them of landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted heavily and indiscriminately.
The story of Ahmed Al-Abraqi is one of hundreds of tragic stories that Yemenis have been witnessing since at least 2015, which indicates the urgent need to criminalise extensive landmine planting in Yemen, and to secure roads from their dangers so that Yemenis can travel safely and live in peace.
