Barran Press
A gathering aimed at supporting and advocating for landmine victims was held in Marib, northern Yemen, on Monday, June 3, 2024. The event, titled “Together to Build Peace and Integrate Landmine Victims,” was organized by the Marib Governorate's Human Rights Office as part of the “Pillars of Peace” program. It was co-sponsored by the Protection for Civil Defense Organization and supported by the “MASAM” project, which focuses on clearing Yemen's landmines.
The gathering's objectives, according to its organizers, include advocating for landmine victims, integrating them into society, and highlighting their suffering, particularly for vulnerable groups like women and children who have lost limbs or sustained permanent disabilities. The event also aims to develop a national strategy for caring for and rehabilitating landmine victims to facilitate their reintegration into society. Additionally, the gathering seeks to mobilize support for providing victims with economic and social assistance.
During the opening ceremony, Marib Governorate Deputy, Dr. Abdurabbu Meftah, praised the “MASAM” project, calling it one of the most significant humanitarian initiatives implemented by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in Yemen. He emphasized the project's vital role in saving the lives of Yemenis from the “terror planted beneath the earth.”
Abdurabbu Juday', Director of the Marib Governorate's Human Rights Office, acknowledged that “MASAM’s” efforts alone are insufficient to liberate Yemen from the landmine crisis. He urged the international community to take a firm stance and compel the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations, to cease planting landmines and to provide maps of their locations.
Walid Al-Jaouri, a member of the “MASAM” media team, stated that the project's support for the event aimed to shed light on the humanitarian suffering of landmine victims. He highlighted the need to draw global attention to this crime, which has been largely ignored due to the lack of a unified database and accurate information about landmine victims in Yemen.
In late May, “MASAM” announced the removal of 1,406 landmines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised explosive devices, bringing the total number of items removed during the month to 5,726.