Hadramout21:Thenational
Houthi rebels in Yemen may have planted up to one million landmines over the past three years, a new Saudi clearing organisation has claimed
The Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance (MASAM) launched in June with the aim of making Yemen landmine free
In the first few weeks of its operation on the ground in Yemen, its clearance teams removed 919 mines and explosive charges, director general Osama Al Qasibi said, but up to one million mines could remain in the ground
“Most of these are internationally banned anti-vehicle and anti-personnel mines that originate from different sources in addition to 288 locally devised or Iranian made mines,” he told UAE state news agency WAM
Houthi rebels, which are battling against the internationally-recognised government of President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi, have relied on mines as part of an irregular warfare strategy. The group is believed to receive material support from Iran
One particular tactic MASAM fieldworkers have seen involves turning anti-vehicle mines into anti-personnel mines, Mr Al Qasibi said
The 1997 Ottawa Treaty prohibits the use and production of anti-personnel mines – those which are designed to kill or maim people. Yemen is a signatory to what is one of the world’s most widely-accepted treaties
Civilians in Yemen have borne the brunt of these indiscriminate weapons. In the past three years, landmines have killed 1194 civilians in Yemen, including 216 children, Mr Al Qasibi said
MASAM has teams working in Taiz, the Red Sea Coast, Beihan, Osailaan, Saada, Shabwa and Marib. It is also training Yemeni specialists in mine clearance
