On World Humanitarian Day (19 August), Project Masam has vowed to continue its humanitarian landmine clearance efforts to help alleviate the suffering of people across Yemen.
In Yemen, Project Masam began as a response to a critical humanitarian need in 2018 and has since emerged as a leading humanitarian project on local, regional, and global levels.
By amplifying Yemen’s voice, Project Masam has brought international attention to the severe impact of landmines and highlighted the profound suffering of the Yemeni people. The project is dedicated to inform the world about the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Yemen, engaging global conscience and fostering a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those affected.
The project’s humanitarian efforts have yielded outstanding results, garnering recognition from local, regional, and international official and humanitarian bodies.
On this occasion, Ousama Algosaibi, Managing Director of the Masam Landmine Clearance Project-Yemen, said: “Today, we attest that Project Masam has always been, and will continue to be, a model humanitarian landmine clearance project dedicated to the well-being of individuals. It focuses on alleviating human suffering and striving to bring relief and hope to Yemen and beyond.”
He added: “The achievements and ongoing efforts of the project in landmine clearance and assisting the Yemeni people demonstrate that Project Masam is deeply committed to humanitarian values.”
Since the project started in 2018, Project Masam’s demining teams have been actively working to locate and clear these deadly devices in all homes, farms, schools, fishing marinas, villages, mountains, deserts, and other areas affected by landmines. They continue to track down and dismantle thousands of mines, protecting the Yemeni people from further harm.
Additionally, Project Masam has been working with international organisation that aims to maintain peace and security, and promote cooperation, such as the United Nations, by sharing information, evidence and delivering training to its staff.
In a country beset by humanitarian crises—where conflict, violence, political instability, poverty, and hunger increasingly affect a large portion of the population —Project Masam staff face daily challenges in their mission to clear landmines. Millions of lives, limbs have been saved so far, and civilians’ rights upheld.
Tragically, the project has lost 30 individuals and has seen 48 others sustain permanent disabilities in the line of duty.
On World Humanitarian Day, Project Masam honours those killed or injured, who sacrificed their lives to protect civilians from the danger of landmines.
Between launch in June 2018 and 16 August 16 2024, Project Masam successfully removed and cleared 455,827 landmines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and unexploded ordnance (UXO). Additionally, the project has cleared 58,813,711 square metres of vital areas, including residential neighbourhoods, grazing areas, educational institutions, water supply sanitation and power plants —areas that have a direct impact on the lives of civilians.
