On Thursday, May 23, 2024, a UN delegation visited "MASAM 22," a team of the Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance in Yemen (MASAM), operating in Taiz governorate (southwest Yemen).

The delegation, according to a MASAM statement received by "Barran Press," included Diego Zorrilla, Deputy Resident Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs for the UN in Yemen, and Charles Frisbee, Mines Advisor at the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

MASAM briefed the delegation on the efforts of its teams working in contaminated areas in Taiz governorate. The governorate has 18 districts contaminated with mines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised explosive devices, the statement said.

The delegation was also informed about the extent of damage caused by mines and explosive devices to schools in the governorate. A total of 84 schools have been completely or partially destroyed.

"MASAM 22" team leader in Taiz, engineer Aref Al-Qahtani, said that the team had successfully removed and secured 9 anti-tank mines, 34 anti-personnel mines, 6 explosive devices, 51 unexploded shells, 793 fuses, and 793 unexploded bullets in recent months.

During the visit, Diego Zorrilla praised the efforts of MASAM teams working in Taiz governorate, describing them as "making significant humanitarian efforts to ensure the safe return of displaced people to their homes."

Zorrilla stressed the importance and professionalism of the "MASAM 22" team's work, considering it operates in a very vital area. He called for continued support for MASAM's work in securing mine-contaminated areas across Yemen.

The delegation toured the safe site in the field, where they learned firsthand about the nature of the work and met with displaced people to understand their efforts.

The delegation also visited Ibrahim Aqil School, which was contaminated with mines, to witness the extent of the damage and the areas requiring debris removal to extract explosive devices buried underneath.

Since its launch in mid-2018, MASAM claims to have cleared 55,390,882 square meters of land, removing 436,376 mines, explosive devices, and unexploded ordnance, including 6,494 anti-personnel mines, 143,951 anti-tank mines, 277,92 unexploded ordnance, and 8,011 explosive devices.

Last June, Rashad Al-Alimi, head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, issued two decrees awarding MASAM and the National Mine Action Programme the Medal of Courage, in recognition and appreciation for their role in clearing Yemeni lands of mines and unexploded ordnance planted by the Houthi group.