Marib — The Saudi humanitarian demining initiative, Project Masam, has successfully dismantled 2,896 landmines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by Houthi militias across several Yemeni regions since the beginning of September.

According to a statement released by the project’s operations center, the clearance efforts spanned multiple governorates, with a particular focus on high-risk civilian zones in Marib, Al-Jawf, and Al-Hudaydah. 

The explosives were laid in residential areas, farms, roads, and schools, posing a severe threat to local communities and humanitarian workers.

The breakdown includes:

- 1,642 anti-personnel and anti-tank mines

- 924 unexploded ordnance

- 330 improvised explosive devices

Project Masam, launched in 2018 with support from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), aims to reduce civilian casualties and restore safe access to vital infrastructure. 

Since its inception, the initiative has cleared tens of thousands of explosive remnants of war, many of which were deliberately concealed in civilian spaces.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned the use of landmines by Houthi forces, citing violations of international humanitarian law and the long-term impact on Yemen’s recovery.

The latest figures underscore the scale of the threat and the urgency of sustained demining operations. 

Project Masam’s teams continue to work under dangerous conditions, often racing against time to prevent further tragedies.