MASAM Removes over 289,000 Mines Planted by Houthis in Yemen

Arab World

November 21st, 6:53am

Aden - Asharq Al-Awsat

MASAM has successfully removed more than 289,000 landmines in Yemen between July 2018 and November 19, 2021. (SPA)

MASAM, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center's project for clearing landmines in Yemen, has successfully removed more than 289,000 landmines between July 2018 and November 19, 2021, planted by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in several regions. Program Manager of MASAM Ousama Al-Gosaibi said the project has been operating in Yemen for four years now. During a press conference in the interim Yemeni capital Aden, he revealed that MASAM has removed 97,187 anti-tank mines, 4,183 anti-personnel mines, 181,562 unexploded ordnance and 6,114 explosive devices. MASAM also boasts rapid intervention experts and others experts in defusing explosives. Al-Gosaibi revealed that the project has carried out 120 operations to destroy remnants of landmines. Moreover, he said the Houthis are planting new more sophisticated forms of explosives that may have disastrous consequences. The randomly planted and camouflaged landmines have claimed thousands of victims, the project manager said, adding that the project – funded by Saudi Arabia – seeks to safeguard the lives of Yemenis and remove explosives from their territories.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3315891/masam-removes-over-289000-mines-planted-houthis-yemen