Project Masam’s Managing Director has welcome comments made by leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries following the conclusion of a meeting in the Qatari capital on 5 December 2023.
The GCC is a political and economic alliance of six countries: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.
In a press release, Ousama Algosaibi, who manages the humanitarian landmine clearance project in Yemen, extended his thanks to the Supreme Council after its members praised Project Masam’e efforts in the closing statement of their 44th session held in Doha.
In their statement, which reflected the dignitaries desire to achieve security and stability in neighbouring Yemen, they said:
“The Supreme Council commended the achievements of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief Centre and the humanitarian support provided by the Coordination Office for Relief and Humanitarian Aid from the Cooperation Council for the Arab Republic of Yemen. It also praised the humanitarian and developmental assistance provided by all member states of the council to Yemen.
“The Council acknowledged the efforts of the Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance (Project Masam) in clearing Yemeni lands from mines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised explosive devices, having successfully removed over 420,823 mines and cleared 51,082,121 square meters of land in Yemen. These landmines and unexploded ordnance, randomly planted by the Houthi militias, have caused casualties among innocent children, women, and the elderly.”
In his comments, Algosaibi described the GCC leaders’ statement as a further motivation for Project Masam and its demining teams to continue their humanitarian clearance work to rid people in Yemen of the danger of landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the Iran-backed Houthi militia – in violation of international humanitarian law.
The final communiqué issued by the Supreme Council of the GCC referred to the efforts made by the GCC member states with regards to the situation in Yemen.
