A Project Masam supervisor has described how removing landmines from a Yemeni school has been successfully carried out despite difficult circumstances.
Colonel Aref Al Qahtani, in charge of Project Masam’s demining teams in Taiz Governorate, explained that Team 22 discovered live ammunition – including 122 mm artillery shells – in a school in the Jabal Habashi district in Taiz Governorate.
The team called in after an explosion occurred at the Al-Shaab Akkad School – which was used by the Houthis as a storage space for landmines and other explosive items.
Al Qahtani highlighted that the educational process was stopped until the school is safely demined, as the school administration understood how dangerous the site was.
The supervisor also said that Team 22 removed all landmines and explosives from under the ruins of the school and moved the debris to a safe place in order to protect the lives of the students and the teaching staff.
Alqahtani highlighted how the demining process of Al Shaab school, which was partly destroyed following the explosion, was a difficult task given how unstable the structure was; but Masam’s demining team had experience to deal with such circumstances.
The school’s 500 students were forced to find alternative means to study until it reopened its doors – after rendered safe.
