Aden — The Saudi-funded Masam humanitarian demining project has successfully removed 2,134 landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXOs), and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) across several regions of Yemen during the first ten days of October, according to a statement released by the project’s media office.

The clearance operations took place in areas heavily contaminated by remnants of war, including Marib, Shabwa, Taiz, and Al-Jawf, where landmines continue to pose a deadly threat to civilians, especially children and displaced families returning to their homes.

Masam’s engineering teams reported that the total included 1,812 anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, 312 unexploded shells and cluster munitions, and 10 IEDs planted in civilian infrastructure and agricultural lands.

"These efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to protecting Yemeni lives and restoring safe access to homes, schools, and farmland," said Osama Al-Gosaibi, Masam’s project director. "Every device removed is a life potentially saved."

Since its launch in 2018, Masam has cleared over 450,000 explosive devices and reclaimed thousands of square kilometers of land. The project operates under the supervision of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and works in coordination with local authorities and international partners.

Despite the progress, humanitarian organizations warn that Yemen remains one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, with millions of devices still buried across conflict zones. The continued deployment of landmines by armed groups has drawn international condemnation and calls for accountability.

Masam’s teams continue to face high-risk conditions, often working in remote and unstable areas with limited access to medical and logistical support. The project has also mourned the loss of several deminers who died in the line of duty.

The latest clearance figures underscore the importance of sustained international support for mine action in Yemen, where the legacy of war continues to endanger lives and hinder recovery.