Project Masam’s Managing Director Ousama Algosaibi has said that the humanitarian landmine clearance project has carried out a total of 59 bulk demolition operations in 2023 across the country.
These controlled demolitions, which follow international standards, mitigate the risk of landmines and other unexploded ordnance (UXO) of falling into the wrong hands, or being repurposed for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) which continue to be locally manufactured and used in Yemen against civilians and military targets – without discrimination.
In a statement, Algosaibi explained that the demolition operations destroyed landmines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and UXO cleared in all the areas covered by both Project Masam’s Marib and Aden headquarters.
The managing director stated that the number of demolition operations in 2023 totalled 59, during which the project was able to destroy 47,204 explosive items, including:
- 677 anti-personnel landmines,
- 7,674 anti-tank landmines,
- 38,504 unexploded ordnance,
- and 349 improvised explosive devices.
In the context of Algosaibi’s review of the project’s achievements in the areas under the supervision of Aden headquarters, the managing director stated that the demolition operations carried out by Project Masam on Yemen’s West Coast amounted to 52 operations, during which 36,647 explosive items were disposed of, including:
- 566 anti-personnel landmines,
- 5,928 anti-tank landmines,
- 29,857 unexploded ordnance
- and 296 improvised explosive devices.
Algosaibi also said that seven demolition operations were carried out by Project Masam’s teams in the areas under the supervision of Marib headquarters, resulting in the destruction of 10,557 explosive items, including:
- 111 anti-personnel landmines,
- 1,746 anti-tank landmines,
- 8,647 unexploded ordnance,
- and 53 improvised explosive devices.
Algosaibi concluded that the demolition operations involved the blasting method or the use of T-Jet 500 technology, depending on the nature of some of the items.
