On World Press Freedom Day (3 May 2025), Project Masam pays tribute to the courageous journalists who bring untold stories from high risk areas, especially Yemen’s minefields, to the global stage and calls for stronger efforts to protect them as they carry out their vital work in dangerous environments.
Operating in one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, Project Masam’s deminers and media teams regularly witness the immense risks faced by those working to document the impact of landmines and unexploded ordnance. These stories would remain in the shadows without journalists – national and international – willing to report from the heart of the conflict.
“Journalists working in Yemen face immense threats simply for doing their jobs,” said Ousama Algosaibi, Managing Director of Project Masam. “Their work sheds light on the suffering of landmine-affected communities and highlights the urgent need for humanitarian intervention. Protecting them is essential to ensuring these realities are not ignored.”
Even in the face of explosive dangers, journalists continue to document the human cost of conflict and the slow but essential progress of demining operations. Each report, photograph, and interview represents not just a story told, but a risk taken.
“Without these powerful narratives, the world would remain unaware of the danger and urgency we encounter every day,” Algosaibi added. “Protecting those who tell these stories is not just a matter of principle – it’s a matter of preserving truth and enabling change.”
Since 2018, Project Masam has actively supported both local and international media by facilitating access to field operations and offering safety guidance, ensuring journalists can report as safely and accurately as possible.
On this World Press Freedom Day, Project Masam urges the international community to prioritise the safety of journalists in Yemen and other conflict zones. Safeguarding their ability to work is key to ensuring that the stories of those most affected by war and instability are seen, heard, and acted upon.
