Project Masam has located and safely destroyed 2,035 landmines and unexploded ordnance in Bab al-Mandab on Yemen’s western coast.
Since Yemen’s civil was began in 2014, Houthi militias have planted land and seamines across Yemen.
On 26 January 2022, Project Masam’s Team Leader Special Tasks in the West Coast, Munther Qasim, and Dr. Zauba Alrawi, Project Masam’s Operations Manager in Aden and the West Coast, oversaw the bulk demolition of 2,035 explosive items. These included 845 anti-tank landmines, 16 anti-personnel mines, 16 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), live ammunition and other explosive ordnance.
Speaking about the demolition, Qasim (pictured) said: “This is the 129th destruction operation for Project Masam since the project launched in Yemen [in mid-2018].”
Qasim thanked Masam Managing Director Mr. Ousama Al-Gosaibi, for the capabilities provided to all the mine clearance teams, as well as the Director of the Executive Office for Mine Action in Aden, Brigadier General Qaid Haitham Halboub for his support.
“We thank the experts and everyone who helped with clearing mines and remove all the landmines planted by the Houthi militias in Yemen,” Qasim added.
Project Masam has located and destroyed a total of 314,891 explosive devices – including 4,519 anti-personnel mines and 111,846 anti-tank mines – since the start of its humanitarian demining activities in 2018.
By clearing coastal areas and areas of immediate humanitarian priority, Project Masam is preventing future tragedies and allowing for the safe movement of civilians and humanitarian goods and services, effectively creating resilience within communities affected by the threat of land and sea mines.
Read more about Project Masam’s demolition process here.
