A teenager has been killed by an anti-personnel landmines in western Yemen as Project Masam’s demining experts are called in for an emergency survey of the area following the incident.
The area, situated south of the strategic port city of Hodeidah, is one of the most heavily mined in Yemen. Houthi militias laid landmines as they retreated as battlefields shifted in and around the key city of Hodeidah. In 2019, ACLED found the southern districts of At Tuhayta, Ad Durahyimi, Al Khawkhah, and Hays accounted for 70 per cent of Yemen’s landmine casualties.
“An explosion occurred today and Murad was killed, after the Houthi militia planted mines and explosive devices in people’s homes, traffic routes and sheep pastures,” Ali Rizik Ali Mohamed, Murad’s friend and neighbour, told Project Masam from his home in Hays district.
“The victim, Murad, is a young and innocent 17-year-old child, who is in his prime,” the man said.
Tragically, civilians are the first victims of anti-personnel landmine explosions.
Project Masam’s mandate is to ensure clearance of mine contaminated areas across Yemen and reduce the number of people killed and injured every year. Following the incident, Masam’s teams were called to carry out emergency mine surveys and clearance in and around the village where Murad was killed.
During the past week (03 December – 10 December), Masam teams managed to clear and destroy 589 landmines and 38 explosive devices from villages and farms in Hays Directorate, according to Project Masam’s Technical Expert Fayez Al-Harbi.
There are currently four Masam teams operating in Hays Directorate – Teams 20, 7, 26 and 27 – who are working urgently to open passages for civilians, secure their return to their homes, and facilitate the transport and arrival of aid relief and shelter organisations to relieve the plight of the afflicted population in western Yemen.
