Yemeni of Information Muammar Al-Eryani has called on the international community, the United Nations and UN Special Envoy to put pressure on the Houthi militia to halt manufacturing and laying landmines in Yemen.
Since Yemen’s civil was began in 2014, Houthi militias have planted land and seamines – extensively, intentionally and indiscriminately – across the war-torn country. Whilst the Houthis’ use of landmines has been widely documented since at least 2015, the sheer number of landmines planted in recent months in high-risk areas has led experts to warn that the armed group’s new tactics could hamper mine eradication in Yemen, as well as pose an increased threat to the safety, health and lives of Yemenis .
In addition to demanding the Houthis stop producing and planting landmines, Al-Eryani said in a statement to the Yemeni News Agency (SABA) that the international community should push the Houthis to hand over maps of minefields and support the Yemeni government’s programs to clear landmines planted in Yemen. On Twitter, Al-Eryani reiterated this demand using the hashtag #HandInTheMaps .
Describing the current situation in Yemen, Al-Eryani said: “Houthi militias have mined public and private facilities, houses, markets, main and secondary streets and farms without distinguishing between civilians and civilians.” Military target, and tens of thousands of civilians were killed, most of them women, children and the elderly, who died or survived after having their limbs amputated.”
While landines prevent “returning” to their homes, villages and farms, the Minister also highlighted how million civil consequences continue on an almost daily basis, as landmines are planted in populated areas in various Yemeni governorates.
In a Tweet posted on 15 May, Al-Eryani described Houthis’ landmine planting planted as “the largest mine-laying operation since World War II”, as he commended the efforts of the Yemeni Government, the National Mine Action Program with support from United National Development, and Project Masam, which he said “made exceptional efforts to clear mines in liberated areas” and “educate local communities about [landmines’] risks and how to deal with them”.
