Project Masam has destroyed and detonated 1,519 landmines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Yemen’s Jabal Habashi.
Since the conflict between Yemen’s pro-government forces and Houthi militias escalated in 2014, liberated strategic areas have been left cluttered with anti-personnel mines and anti-tank mines, along with unexploded explosive remnants of war (ERW).
The Operations Room announced in a statement that the demolition operation carried out by the Special Task Force team included 170 anti-tank mines and 22 banned anti-personnel mines.
The demolition operation also included the destruction of 1,305 projectiles and 22 improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
In a statement, the supervisor of the Masam teams in Taiz governorate said that the mines that were destroyed today (8 June) had been removed by the Masam teams during the past months in the districts of Jabal Habashi, Al-Shaab Ekad, and Al-Kadha.
These mines posed a direct threat to civilians in Taiz province – one of the mosy landmine-contaminated regions in Yemen – and hindered any development projects in these districts, he said.
Taiz military spokesman Col. Abdul-Basit al-Bahr, meanwhile, said that the city of Taiz has suffered a lot and is still suffering from the presence of landmines and IEDs. Thanks to the efforts of Project Masam, al-Bahr added, the suffering of civilians ended and life was brought back to normal safely in all areas where Masam teams are working.
The military spokesman called for the continuation of Masam’s work until all directorates of the governorate are cleared of mines.
Al-Bahr added that the teams of the Masam project are fighting a battle against Houthi mines, as this task is carried out by brave, and dedicated deminers, whose ultimate goal is to secure the lives of civilians in their homes and sources of livelihood.
