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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
