On September 5, as the world marks the International Day of Charity, Project Masam proudly highlights its humanitarian landmine clearance efforts in Yemen, aligning with the day’s mission to recognise the transformative role of charitable organisations in alleviating crises and honouring dedicated individuals and partners.
Established by the United Nations in 2012, this day celebrates the power of charity to address human suffering, a principle at the heart of our work to clear Yemen’s deadly landmines and explosive remnants of war.
In Yemen, where conflict has displaced over 4.5 million people and left critical infrastructure like schools and hospitals surrounded by hidden dangers, our demining operations provide a lifeline.
Since 2018, Project Masam has neutralised over 512,000 explosive devices, including banned anti-personnel mines and improvised explosives, while clearing more than 69 million square metres of contaminated land. As of 29 August 2025, our 32 specialised demining teams, including special task units handling emergencies and bulk demolitions, have cleared a total of 4,735 explosive devices and 1,048,135 square metres of land in that recent period, enabling safer access to farmlands, homes, and roads for communities ravaged by war.
The International Day of Charity highlights the importance of sustained support. Since 2018, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) has funded Project Masam to carry out our life-saving operations. This support empowers us to help deliver humanitarian aid by creating safe environments where other relief efforts can thrive, directly addressing the crisis where 260 civilians were killed or injured by explosives in 2024.
Stories like that of Khamaj Abkar, a Hajjah mechanic who lost both legs to a Houthi mine while working his farm, reflect the human toll and the resilience our work supports.
To amplify our impact, one innovative angle could be integrating mine risk education into local curricula, empowering Yemen’s youth to navigate cleared areas safely while fostering community recovery. Another angle is joining hands as the international community to demand that Houthis hand over any maps or information on minefields and locations, share vital information to accelerate clearance, demand perpetrators face justice for violations of international law, and support survivors, casualties, and their families through targeted aid and rehabilitation programmes. These initiatives align with the day’s focus on recognising forward-thinking efforts by charitable organisations.
“On this International Day of Charity, we are reminded that mine action is a humanitarian necessity and a shared global responsibility. International cooperation and sustained funding, including the vital support from Saudi Arabia through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, form the backbone of Project Masam’s work,” Project Masam’s Managing Director said.
“Every cleared field, every reopened school, every safe road demonstrates that when nations and institutions invest together, lives are not only saved but given back their future. Charity in this context is a strategic commitment to stability, dignity, and peace for Yemen and beyond.”
Project Masam remains steadfast in its mission to mitigate Yemen’s humanitarian crisis through demining, honouring the spirit of the International Day of Charity by creating pathways to safety and hope. We express gratitude to our funders and partners for their unwavering commitment and invite stakeholders to explore our work at our website, where we continue to advance a mine-free future for Yemen.
