Yemen Urges UN Action on Houthi Landmine Planting, Warns of Humanitarian Crisis

The Yemeni government has appealed to the United Nations and relevant international organizations for urgent intervention to halt the Houthi militia's planting of anti-personnel landmines in several governorates. The government warned of catastrophic long-term humanitarian consequences threatening civilian lives and called for expanded mine clearance programs, victim assistance, and decontamination efforts.

This appeal was made in a memorandum dispatched by the Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Yemen. The memorandum strongly condemned the Houthi militia's persistent and indiscriminate planting of landmines, particularly in villages and populated areas, holding the group fully responsible for the ensuing humanitarian repercussions.

The memo referenced reports indicating that the Houthis have been deploying camouflaged landmines and improvised explosive devices in mountainous terrains, secondary roads, and the homes of displaced persons in the rural areas of Taiz Governorate. These actions have resulted in near-daily civilian casualties, including women and children, especially in the southern suburbs of Taiz city and areas adjacent to the front lines.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Yemen has become one of the world's most mine-contaminated countries due to ongoing planting activities. These, along with unexploded ordnance, pose grave risks to the lives, safety, and livelihoods of the population.

The ministry highlighted that children are disproportionately vulnerable to these mines, often falling victim while herding livestock, playing, or navigating rugged, secondary routes. Civilians are compelled to use these alternative paths due to the blockade imposed on cities and main roads.

The Yemeni government urged the UNDP and international organizations to unequivocally condemn the Houthi practices and to coordinate with relevant UN bodies to exert pressure on the group to cease landmine planting. Furthermore, it called for enhanced and expanded programs for mine detection, clearance, risk education, and victim assistance, given the widening scope of affected regions.

The ministry underscored the necessity of supporting Yemen's National Mine Action Committee and strengthening its technical and operational capabilities. This support is crucial for Yemen to fulfill its obligations under the 1997 Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel mines, as well as international humanitarian law and related conventions.