After years of conflict, landmines continue to pose a serious threat to civilian life across Yemen, preventing communities from accessing land and essential services. Against this backdrop, Project Masam has reached a new milestone, as the efforts of its demining teams have helped restore safety and enable development in previously contaminated areas.
The project’s work in securing the Khalidiya area of Usaylan district in Shabwah governorate, eastern Yemen, has made it possible for local residents to implement a water well project that will serve hundreds of people. This achievement marks a significant step toward restoring normal life in an area long affected by explosive contamination.
According to Engineer Mohamed Maznan, a member of Project Masam’s demining Team 5, the site designated for the well was previously a vast minefield covering more than half a square kilometre. Through sustained clearance operations, the team successfully removed 250 anti-vehicle mines, rendering the land safe for civilian use and opening the way for critical infrastructure projects.
In a statement to Project Masam’s media office, Maznan explained that Khalidiya is among the most heavily mined areas in the Usaylan district.
Over recent years, Project Masam teams have secured the broader area extending from Hayd bin Aqeel to the village of Soufa, removing approximately 20,000 mines. These efforts have paved the way for the safe return of communities and the gradual resumption of development activities.
Saleh Salem Al-Harthi, a resident of the Khalidiya area, expressed his deep appreciation for Project Masam’s efforts to restore normal life. He noted that clearing farms, roads, and grazing lands of landmines has brought back a sense of security to residents. He added that the ongoing water well project will provide drinking water to hundreds of families, support the expansion of agricultural activities, and contribute to improved livelihoods across the community.
Project Masam teams continue their fieldwork across multiple regions of Yemen as part of broader humanitarian efforts to remove landmines and remnants of war. Guided by the belief that each mine removed represents a step toward a safer future, the teams work relentlessly to help communities reclaim their land and rebuild their lives without fear.
