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From the jewel of Yemen to fields planted with death, that is how Al Khokha looks because of the Houthis’ mines.
With its breathtaking landscapes, an enchanting coastal line and a magnificent nature, the beaches and gardens of Al Khokha directorate seem as the crown jewel of Yemen’s tourism, the jewel of Yemen, and the Cinderella of Yemeni coastal cities as many describe it.
But, because of the Houthis’ deeds, it turned into hell for its 33764 inhabitants, and a trap that kidnapps their souls after the criminal Houthis infested all its lands and sands with thousands of mines and explosive devices.
According to Masam’s demining teams which are working in Al Khokha directorate, the planted mines varied between anti-tank and anti-personnel, explosive devices which are considered individual mines which their use, transfer and production are prohibited according to Ottawa treaty, and which varies between explosive devices with electrical circuits or Infra-red “cameras”, and others that work with pressure, and artillery shells, machine guns, and flying bombs.
The Houthis’ mines caused dozens of Al Khokha directorate’s inhabitants to be killed or wounded, most of them women and children.
Fatima Ibrahim… on of the victims of the Houthi’s crimes
Fatima Ibrahim is one of the victims who were harmed by the criminal hands of Houthis, and another story in the record of the Houthis’ crimes against the Yemenis.
In an exclusive interview with Masam’s media office Fatima said: “we were fleeing our home in Al Khokha due to the Houthis’ shelling of homes with missiles and rockets.. And during our flight, a mine planted at the roadside by the Houthis exploded at us, which led to the killing of 4 women of my family, and I with my son were injured”.
Fatima added: “were not the only ones who were exposed to the mines’ explosions, there are dozens of women and children from the region who were killed, and some of them were permanently disabled because of the mines that the Houthis planted to kill citizens.
Masam’s efforts to bring life back to Al Khokha directorate
In his turn, the leader of Masam’s team 7 colonel Mohammad Al Aajra said that when his team went to Al Khokha directorate in late November 2018, the whole area was infested with mines.
Colonel Al Aajra added in an exclusive interview with Masam’s media office that Al Khokha’s inhabitants were quasi-besieged due to the Houthis’ mining of all main roads and sub-roads, and that 70 % of the farms were not suitable for investment, and work stopped in them because of the mines.
The leader of Masam’s team 7 noted that his team started its mission in Al Khokha with an emergency plan to open the main roads and sub-roads in the populated villages, and then his team went on to secure homes and farms for the inhabitants.
Colonel Al Aajra confirmed that his team has been able until now to clear 12 minefields, all of them roads and farms, and the team has been able to remove more than 1500 anti-armor mines, 20 anti-personnel mines and 20 explosive devices.
The leader of Masam’s team 7 noted that thanks to the support and backup provided by the Masam project represented by the Managing Director, and thanks to the efforts made by his team, the land breathed, and the inhabitants of Al Khokha directorate were able to go back to their farms and normal lives in a safe manner.