Yemen is close to becoming the most landmine contaminated country since World War II, according to Somaya Al-Mahmoud, Director of Public Relations and Media Affairs Officer of Project Masam, said in an interview with Al-Qahera News.<\/p>\n
Masam is a humanitarian project launched under the umbrella of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) to clear landmines in Yemen laid by the Houthi militia.<\/p>\n
In a phone interview with Aya Lotfi, Host of Cairo-based Al-Qahera News’ “Today’s File” show, Al-Mahmoud said that Yemen has been planted with landmines in a myriad of Yemeni areas, with a number of areas particularly impacted, such as Taiz Governorate where 18 out of 23 districts have been contaminated, followed by Marib Governorate, and Shabwah Governorate.<\/p>\n
Al-Mahmoud went on to tell Lofti that Masam’s teams have worked and cleared 11 Governorates – more than 43,000,000sqm. She stressed that the Houthi militia randomly planted mines in homes, schools, agricultural areas, and even water sources.<\/p>\n
Since Project Masam has been working to clear Yemeni lands of mines and explosive devices that threaten Yemeni civilians, Al-Mahmoud said that mines planted in Yemen over the past years had been traditional bu this is changing.<\/p>\n
“Today, we are seeing new types of mines; anti-personnel mines and anti-tank mines. The Houthi militia has developed explosive devices, 85% of which are homemade, with the aim of harming the largest number possible of Yemenis,” Al-Mahmoud said.<\/p>\n