The director of the Sabir district in The Taiz governorate has claimed his region has been badly affected by landmines.
Mohamed al-Kadhi said: “Our region has suffered a lot from landmines which have been randomly planted to cause the death and injury of a large number of children and women in tragic accidents.”
Al-Kadhi pointed out that the mines have been planted in populated areas targeting civilians during their daily activities, hindering their work, and paralysing their daily life.
The director claimed that the recurrent news of explosions and accidents taking place in several neighbouring areas have deepened the people’s fear of these deadly explosive items and have pushed people to leave their homes.
Al-Kadhi pointed out that the Sabir district has been severely harmed by landmines which target mainly women who actively take animals for grazing as well as children who play and have fun.
Al-Kadhi estimates that Taiz now has about 300.000 landmines. He called upon the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to continue supporting the Yemenis to end this catastrophe. He also called upon the UN to cooperate with Project Masam in its humanitarian efforts to help Yemen overcome the landmine calamity.
Meanwhile, Al-Kadhi thanked Masam for its efforts in several Yemeni districts that now have been totally cleared of landmines – effectively enabling their inhabitants to resume their normal activities and return to their houses, pastures, farms, schools, and vital institutions, safely. He further expressed his wish that the conditions in Taiz would someday get better after the total removal of landmines.
Al-Kadhi added that the continuation of Masam’s efforts in Yemen is vital to ensure Yemenis can go back to their normal lives.
