The Ministerial Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) has commended Project Masam’s efforts.
In its final communiqué issued at the conclusion of its 164th session, held on Monday (2 June) in Kuwait, the Council highlighted the accomplishments of the Saudi-led initiative.
Project Masam has successfully removed 493,256 landmines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised explosive devices, and cleared approximately 66.86 million square metres of land across Yemen. These areas had been indiscriminately mined by Houthi militias, resulting in the tragic loss of innocent lives, including children, women, and the elderly.
The Ministerial Council of the GCC also acknowledged the significant humanitarian contributions of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief), as well as the efforts of the GCC Relief and Humanitarian Aid Coordination Office (GAFC) to Yemen.
In its final communiqué, the Council praised the humanitarian and development assistance extended by all GCC member states to Yemen. It highlighted the impactful role of the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY), which has implemented 263 development projects and initiatives across seven key sectors: education, health, water, energy, transport, agriculture and fisheries, and institutional capacity building. The programme also supports government institutions, offers direct financial assistance to the Yemeni state budget, and contributes to salaries, operating costs, and food security initiatives.
Speaking on behalf of Project Masam, Managing Director Ousama Algosaibi extended his deep appreciation to Their Highnesses and Excellencies, the Foreign Ministers of the GCC states, and GCC Secretary-General Mr. Jasem Al-Budaiwi. He emphasised that the project, fully funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has just entered its eighth year and continues to achieve remarkable progress.
Algosaibi attributed the project’s success to God’s grace and the unwavering support of the Saudi leadership, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. He noted that the project’s achievements have exceeded expectations, particularly given the extraordinary challenges faced on the ground, including the indiscriminate planting of mines, the lack of minefield maps, rugged terrain, ongoing military operations in some regions, and the continued planting of explosive devices by Houthi militias in newly reached areas.
In a press statement, Algosaibi highlighted that since its inception in mid-2018, Project Masam has focused on enhancing the capabilities of its personnel by adopting the latest technologies and methodologies in landmine clearance. The project has also prioritised the training and development of Yemeni cadres to build local expertise in this critical field.
Algosaibi described the landmine crisis in Yemen as a humanitarian catastrophe, underscoring that the Houthi militias have deliberately targeted civilians by planting mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in civilian areas, in blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law.
He further expressed deep appreciation for the support that the project receives from Yemen’s leadership, government, and people, which has significantly contributed to its high performance and operational success. He also noted Project Masam’s ongoing awareness campaigns, particularly in districts heavily affected by mines, which target vulnerable groups such as children and women, who represent a large proportion of landmine victims.
Concluding his statement, Algosaibi renewed his call to the international community and humanitarian organisations to reassess the global approach to mine action. He stressed that landmines are indiscriminate weapons of death, especially dangerous amid the rising tide of armed conflicts and the increasing reliance on such devices by terrorist groups, including the Houthis, to terrorise civilians and displace them from their homes and farms as part of a land denial process.
