Barran Press
The Saudi Project for the Clearance of Yemeni Lands from Mines (MASAM) announced on Monday, June 24, 2024, that it had removed 645 mines during the third week of June in various Yemeni governorates. The project stated that the mines were planted by the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by the international community.
In a statement, MASAM revealed that its teams had removed 46 anti-tank mines, 593 unexploded ordnance, and 6 explosive devices.
According to the project, the total number of mines removed in June reached 3,455.
In May, MASAM reported removing 5,726 mines, unexploded ordnance, and explosive devices.
Since its inception, MASAM has removed a total of 448,313 mines planted indiscriminately across Yemen, causing casualties among innocent civilians, including children, women, and the elderly.
Launched in 2018 as a humanitarian initiative by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, MASAM currently operates 32 demining teams in areas controlled by the internationally recognized government.
In June, Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi awarded MASAM and the National Mine Action Program with the Medal of Courage, recognizing their efforts in clearing Yemeni lands of mines and unexploded ordnance planted by the Houthi group.
According to UN reports, the Houthi group has planted an estimated two million mines across areas under their control, resulting in the death and injury of over 20,000 civilians, the majority being women and children. rights reports accuse the Houthi group of transforming Yemen into "the largest minefield ever," after planting over two million mines.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly called on the Houthi group to provide maps of the landmines they have planted to demining organizations.