Project Masam has announced that its demining teams have now located and cleared 557,007 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 24 April 2026.
The total clearance includes 7,154 anti-personnel mines, 150,971 anti-tank mines, 390,440 items of unexploded ordnance (UXO), and 8,442 improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Through these operations, 79,131,927 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 latest reporting week (18-24 April 2026), Project Masam teams cleared 1,273 explosive items, including three anti-personnel mines, 105 anti-tank mines, 1,157 UXO, and eight IEDs, while securing 341,524 square metres of land.
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 sand movement, flooding, and restricted access 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.
