Project Masam has participated in the 28th International Meeting of Mine Action National Directors and United Nations Advisers (NDM-UN28) held in Geneva between 9 – 11 April, joining hundreds of mine action professionals, policymakers, and humanitarian leaders from around the world.
Held under the theme “Safe Futures Start Here,” the annual conference served as a critical platform for addressing the evolving challenges faced by demining teams working in post-conflict and active conflict zones.
As the largest humanitarian mine action organisation operating in Yemen, Project Masam contributed to a dedicated panel on Yemen—today one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world.
The panel discussion focused on the impact of explosive contamination on Yemen’s civilian population, economy, agriculture, and biodiversity, while also emphasising the urgent need for enhanced cooperation and long-term international support.
“Participating in the Yemen panel at NDM-UN28 was not only a responsibility, but a necessity,” said Ousama Algosaibi, Managing Director of Project Masam.
“Yemen’s landmine crisis is unlike any other. Our presence at the global table ensures that the voices of affected communities are heard, and that the realities on the ground are reflected in international policy and support. We are not just representing a project, we are representing the thousands of lives at stake every day.”
A Crisis Like No Other
Panelists described Yemen’s contamination as a uniquely severe crisis: landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are laid without maps, often disguised in civilian spaces such as wells, farmlands, roads, and even children’s toys. These tactics have rendered entire regions uninhabitable, jeopardising humanitarian aid access and daily survival.
Representatives from the Yemen Executive Mine Action Centre (YEMAC) spoke about the scale of clearance required, highlighting the dangers faced by demining teams navigating unstable terrain and unpredictable devices.
An advisor from the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) emphasised the long-term environmental impact, citing the destructive effects of explosives on Yemen’s natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
The panel also underscored the vital importance of Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) to protect civilians, particularly children, farmers, and internally displaced persons (IDPs), who are most likely to encounter landmines in their daily routines.
Project Masam’s Continued Commitment
Project Masam used the platform to reaffirm its long-standing commitment to humanitarian mine action in Yemen. Funded by the Saudi-based King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), Project Masam has to date cleared over 486,000 explosive devices across the country, working in close partnership with YEMAC and deploying 32 trained Yemeni demining teams.
“Yemen’s landmine crisis demands not only technical expertise but long-term presence and local trust,” Algosaibi added. “That’s what we bring – daily action on the ground, coordinated with local partners, and rooted in the principle that safety is a human right.”
A Call for Global Support
Across the three-day conference, a consistent theme emerged: many mine action programmes around the world are critically underfunded at a time when contamination is growing at an unprecedented rate. Yemen is no exception.
Project Masam joined global partners in calling for renewed international focus, funding, and cooperation to address this rising humanitarian threat.
“We were proud to represent Yemen at NDM-UN28,” Algosaibi explained. “Because when it comes to rebuilding safe futures, Yemen cannot afford to be forgotten.”
