Thousands of Yemeni lives are shattered by shrapnel wounds each year. Mahfouz Thabet, who is in his teens, was working in the fields when he triggered the mine detonating mechanism. The landmine projected metal fragments.
“I was grazing cattle and I ran over a mine which exploded immediately,” he told Project Masam. “The mine exploded, cutting through my legs, and pieces of metal lodged into both my legs and my hand.”
Mahfouz’ injuries are no longer life-threatening but they have been life-altering: he moves with difficulty and every step is painful. He can no longer work.
“I hope that mines will be removed from the lands,” Mahfouz said, as he look onwards towards his village and the surrounding areas.
Since the Saudi programme was implemented in mid-2018, Project Masam has responded to emergency calls from local villagers and investigated hundreds of cases of landmine, UXO and IED reports and incidents. As 30 April 2021, Project Masam has effectively cleared 22,518,643 sqm of Yemeni land.
