The Saudi-funded "Masam" mine clearance project in Yemen has been extended for an additional year with a $52.994 million boost, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) announced Thursday.

The extension underscores efforts to enhance security and aid in conflict-affected areas. Masam, run by Saudi and international experts, aims to clear Yemeni land of mines and unexploded ordnance while building local demining capacity.
Masam director Osama Al-Gosaibi highlighted the project's vital role in ridding Yemen of Houthi-planted explosives, which have devastatingly impacted civilians. He noted strong support from Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council.

To date, Masam has removed over 495,855 mines and ordnance, clearing 67,244,455 square meters of land. These figures, Al-Gosaibi stated, reveal the "absurdity" of indiscriminate mining by the Houthi group.
Al-Gosaibi also praised Yemeni citizens' cooperation and the partnership with the local National Mine Action Program (YMCP) for the project's high success rates.