Judge Ishraq Al-Maqtri, a member of the National Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations, has revealed that over 1700 people have been killed or injured by landmines in the Yemeni governorate of Taiz, with the majority of victims being women and children.

In an interview with "Barran Press," Al-Maqtri stated that "most of the landmines planted in Taiz were placed in sensitive areas or areas that would impact civilians, especially children and women, across 16 districts." She highlighted that "the landmines that exploded in the districts of [Mughbana, Jabal Habashi, Sabr Al-Mawadem, Muza'a, and Al-Wazea'] were all planted in areas where women and children are present."

Al-Maqtri emphasized that these landmines were planted "near wells, qat farms, areas where people gather firewood, and secondary roads used by women and children. They have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of men and women, as well as dozens of children, in addition to the amputation of limbs for many victims, including some who lost their sight."

During the interview, Al-Maqtri discussed efforts to remove landmines and raise awareness of their dangers. She confirmed that "efforts have been made in this regard by organizations specializing in mine clearance, including the Masam Project, HALO Trust, and the Executive Center for Mine Victims."

She noted that "effective entities have contributed to mitigating the impact of landmines on victims, including hospitals, humanitarian organizations, and government-run prosthetic centers." She highlighted the "prominent role of the prosthetic center in fitting prosthetics for many who have lost limbs and in providing psychological rehabilitation for those affected by these landmines."

Al-Maqtri called upon Yemeni government legal and judicial authorities to "fulfill their duty in holding perpetrators accountable for these crimes, prosecuting them, and bringing to justice the Houthi leaders who ordered the planting of these landmines. The perpetrators are known due to the clear chain of command within the Houthi militia."

According to UN reports, the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, has planted an estimated two million landmines across areas under their control. These landmines have resulted in the deaths and injuries of over 20,000 civilians, the majority being women and children. rights reports accuse the Houthis of "turning Yemen into the largest landmine field ever, after planting over two million landmines." Human rights organizations have repeatedly called on the Houthi group to provide maps of the landmines they have planted to organizations working in mine clearance.