The Operations Officer of the United Nations (UN) Office of Safety and Security in Yemen, Ahmed Hamadeh, has visited Project Masam’s headquarters in Marib in central Yemen.
Years of conflict have left the strategic city of Marib and the surrounding region littered with unexploded ordnance, as well as tens of thousands of landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) manufactured and planted extensively and indiscriminately by Houthi militias.
Hamadeh’s visit was to discuss the status of the road extending from the Safer area in Marib (in Marib governorate) to Usaylan (in neighbouring Shabwah governorate), ensuring its safety and clearance of mines.
The visit held particular importance as it aimed to facilitate access for United Nations teams and humanitarian organisations to the districts of Bayhan and Usaylan, enabling the implementation of essential humanitarian and medical projects, amid shrinking humanitarian operating space.
Additionally, the UN officer sought to understand how Project Masam’s demining teams are managing landmines displaced by floods.
Retief Horn, in-country Project Manager for Project Masam, told Hamadeh that the project’s demining teams rely on raw information from local residents, and then dispatch teams to identify suspected or confirmed threats and safely neutralise them. Demining teams regularly conduct Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) sessions for civilians to raise awareness of landmines warning signs and dangers, as well as safe behaviours in heavily mine-contaminated areas.
The UN officer expressed admiration for the capabilities and achievements of Project Masam, highlighting the project’s distinctive and crucial training provided to the Yemeni National Mine Action Programme.
Hamada urged Project Masam to conduct awareness sessions for UN teams and partner organisations operating in Marib, aiming to facilitate humanitarian aid access.
Horn, meanwhile, confirmed Project Masam’s staff were keen to start conducting these training sessions for all staff members of the UN Office and partner organisations.
As Houthi militias in Yemen ramped up their offensive in the west and northwest of the Marib Governorate in 2021, Project Masam reiterating a warning about a landmine contamination emergency in the area.
Marib is home to more than a million Yemenis, many of whom have sought refuge from the Houthis and violence since the beginning of the conflict in late 2014.
