Project Masam has announced that its demining teams have now located and cleared 545,952 landmines and explosive threats across Yemen’s liberated areas since operations began in July 2018, according to the latest cumulative figures covering activities up to 27 February 2026.
The total clearance includes 7,105 anti-personnel mines, 150,440 anti-tank mines, 380,002 items of unexploded ordnance, and 8,405 improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Through these operations, more than 77,947,370 square metres of land have been made safe for civilian use, supporting safer returns, livelihoods, and humanitarian access across multiple governorates.
Since the escalation of the conflict in 2014, large areas of Yemen have been contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants of war, particularly in formerly contested and strategically significant regions. Estimates indicate that between one and two million mines were laid nationwide by the Houthis, creating long-term risks for civilians, agriculture, infrastructure, and humanitarian operations.
During the most recent reporting week (21–27 February 2026), Project Masam teams cleared 1,765 explosive devices, including 13 anti-personnel mines, 5 anti-tank mines, 1,745 items of unexploded ordnance, and 2 IEDs, while securing 9,750 square metres of land despite difficult terrain and operational constraints in several locations.
Project Masam continues to prioritise the clearance of villages, agricultural land, schools, infrastructure, and access routes to enable safer movement for civilians and humanitarian workers.
Up to five million Yemenis have been displaced since the start of the war, many forced from their homes not only by active fighting but also by widespread landmine contamination. Seasonal sandstorms, shifting frontlines, and restricted access in heavily contaminated areas continue to complicate clearance efforts. Despite these challenges, Project Masam remains committed to protecting lives and supporting Yemen’s recovery through sustained humanitarian mine action.
