Riyadh —A Saudi-led humanitarian initiative has successfully removed more than 486,000 land mines and explosive devices planted by Houthi militias across war-torn Yemen, according to a recent report by Project Masam, a demining program overseen by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief).

Since its launch in mid-2018, Project Masam has cleared 325,378 unexploded ordnance, 146,285 anti-tank mines, 8,212 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and 6,776 anti-personnel mines, many of which were hidden in civilian areas including roads, schools, and homes.

The initiative operates with a team of over 550 personnel and 32 specialized clearance units, working across key provinces such as Marib, Taiz, Hodeidah, and Saada. In addition to removing deadly devices, the project trains Yemeni engineers and provides medical support to victims of mine-related injuries.

Ousama Al-Gosaibi, Project Masam’s managing director, emphasized the humanitarian impact of the mission: “Every mine removed is a life potentially saved, a home reclaimed, a future restored. Demining is not just about removing explosives; it is about restoring hope, stability, and economic recovery”.

The report highlights the scale of the threat posed by Houthi-planted explosives, which continue to endanger civilians and obstruct humanitarian aid. With over 5 million people displaced since the conflict began, the demining effort remains a critical component of Yemen’s recovery.