Due to the large number of landmines planted in schools, colleges and universities in Yemen’s Harib district, Project Masam began clearing these vital facilities to ensure the education process could be restored for millions of Yemeni children.
Dr. Amin Duweihan, an academic at the Faculty of Education in Bayhan, said that the project has already had a big impact on civilians, after it cleared villages, entire provinces, fields, schools and hospitals, as well as other landmine contaminated areas.
Through its clearance operations, the project has restored civilians’ “normal activities”; students have returned to their schools and universities, farmers have returned to their land and fishermen have returned to the sea.
Duweihan also commended Project Masam’s Mine Risk Education sessions, which he said have educated Yemeni communities about the dangers of these explosive threats – which exclude no one.
The academic took a moment to appreciate Project Masam’s demining teams, including those that have lost members of their teams.
Mohamed Al-Masabi, a student in the Faculty of Education in Bayhan, said that landmines caused extensive damage, after Houthi militias targeted schools and educational facilities.
The student thanked Project Masam for its humanitarian landmine clearance role, describing it as a “life-saving” project that has already brought life back to several areas.
Al-Masabi said that the project’s teams are continuing to successfully and efficiently clear entire areas – which he claimed shows that Project Masam is supporting Yemenis in their ordeal with landmines.
Hussein Nasser’s son, Badr al-Abab, is a survivor who was severely injured in the explosion of one of the millions of landmines planted in the plains, farms, mountains, deserts, homes, water supplies, pastures and schools.
Describing living in Yemen’s landmine contaminated areas, Al-Abab said civilians feel “besieged” in their own homes, are being prevented from going to work or visiting their family members, while students can’t attend school.
Landmines have caused the displacement of many, the disability of hundreds, and the killing of many others, Al-Abab added.
