Yemen Mine Clearance Project Warns of Houthi Reseeding of Explosives

Yemen's Masam Project for Mine Clearance has announced the removal of 600,000 mines, explosive devices, and unexploded ordnance since commencing operations in mid-2018. The project issued a stark warning regarding the reseeding of mines in previously cleared and secured areas, highlighting the additional challenges this poses to land security and civilian protection efforts.

Osama Al-Qasabi, the project's Director-General, stated in an interview with the Saudi media platform "Qal wa Dal" that recent events in Yemen have significantly impacted the project's operations. He noted the detection of newly planted mines and explosive devices in areas that had previously been cleared and secured.

Al-Qasabi attributed the reseeding efforts to the Houthi militia, explaining that they deploy large numbers of explosives in areas before withdrawing. This practice presents ongoing challenges for demining teams and re-exposes populations in formerly secured regions to the threat of mines.

He further indicated that the actual number of mines planted in Yemen remains unknown due to the absence of official maps and statistics detailing their locations and quantities. While previous estimates suggested around two million mines, the new planting activities make assessing the current threat level considerably more difficult.

Al-Qasabi described the removal of 600,000 explosive items as a significant achievement, made possible by the dedicated efforts and considerable sacrifices of the engineering teams and personnel involved in field clearance operations.

He clarified that Masam is a purely Saudi project, fully funded by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and operating under the umbrella of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre. The project began its operations in Yemen in mid-2018 and is now entering its ninth year confronting the dangers posed by mines.

Al-Qasabi emphasized that mines in Yemen were planted randomly and extensively, not only along frontlines but also in residential neighborhoods, farmlands, schools, entrances to mosques, and water sources, thereby posing a direct threat to civilian lives and livelihoods.

He affirmed Masam's continued commitment to its operations of removing mines and war remnants and securing contaminated areas, aiming to reduce human casualties and assist affected communities in regaining security and stability.