Landmines remain a persistent threat to civilians in Yemen, continuing to cause serious injuries long after frontlines have shifted. In rural areas, everyday activities such as farming and collecting firewood still carry life-altering risks.
Forty-year-old Fatima Hirani was injured while collecting firewood near her village in Hiran District, north of Hajjah Governorate. The task was part of her daily routine, undertaken to support her family. Unaware that the land had been contaminated, she stepped on a landmine that had been buried beneath the soil. The explosion resulted in the amputation of her left foot.
Fatima was taken for medical treatment and returned home after a prolonged absence, facing permanent physical injury and significant changes to her ability to work and care for her family. Her injury has affected her mobility, her health, and her household’s economic stability.
Describing what happened, Fatima said: “I was working on the farm and did not know that mines had invaded our land. It had always been safe, full of prosperity and tranquility. I was walking and collecting firewood when, suddenly, a landmine exploded beneath me and amputated my left foot.
“We have lost our sense of safety and now live in constant fear – especially for our children – worried that they too may fall victim to mines. This has affected my health and my entire life. I now struggle to walk and work, and I need a prosthetic limb to help me move.”
Fatima’s case reflects the broader impact of landmine contamination across Yemen, where explosive devices have been laid in villages, agricultural land, and along access routes. These hidden threats continue to endanger civilians and restrict safe movement, livelihoods, and recovery in affected communities.
