Local authorities in Yemen’s embattled Taiz Governorate have reopened the Civil Status and Civil Registry branch in Salah District, east of the city, following the completion of renovation works and preparations to resume smart electronic ID card services for citizens.
The reopening comes after Project Masam cleared and secured the government complex in October 2025, enabling rehabilitation work to proceed safely. The intervention followed the discovery of an anti personnel landmine in the building’s courtyard during excavation.
Project Masam teams carried out a comprehensive field survey, safely removing the device and securing the site before handing it over to the relevant authorities. This clearance operation allowed local authorities to resume reconstruction efforts and prepare the facility for public use.
Previous clearance operations in Taiz have also highlighted the persistent risks posed by landmines in and around government facilities. In Dhubab district, for example, a landmine explosion inside a government complex courtyard prompted emergency clearance operations by Project Masam, where teams removed multiple explosive devices and secured the site to allow rehabilitation efforts to continue.
Renovation of the Salah district building was funded by the local council and forms part of wider efforts to restore essential services in the district. The government complex includes several key facilities such as the Salah District Police Station, the Civil Status Authority, and the Smart ID Card Issuance Centre, which serve a large number of residents, including citizens arriving from northern governorates to obtain official documentation.
Years of conflict in Yemen have left many public facilities damaged or contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants of war, preventing access to essential services and prolonging humanitarian challenges. The reopening of the branch highlights the role of mine clearance in enabling recovery, restoring access to public services, and easing daily hardships for communities in Taiz Governorate.
