MASAM clears nearly 11,000 mines and explosive remnants in Yemen’s Midi district

JEDDAH: The director-general of the Saudi-backed Project Masam for Landmine Clearance in Yemen praised teams for removing nearly 11,000 land mines and war remnants at a meeting on Wednesday.

Osama bin Yousef Al-Qusaibi met with engineering and demining team leaders in the northwestern district of Midi to review field operations and assess progress in clearing mines and explosive remnants of war.

The meeting, held at the project’s headquarters in the Hajjah governorate, was attended by Saudi and international experts as well as field team commanders.

Al-Qusaibi reviewed operational reports and praised the teams for removing nearly 11,000 landmines, improvised explosive devices, unexploded ordnance and other war remnants, eliminating a significant threat to civilians in one of Yemen’s most heavily contaminated districts.

He said the achievement reflects Masam’s continued commitment to supporting humanitarian demining efforts across Yemen, helping restore normal life in conflict-affected communities and enabling residents to return safely to their homes, farms and sources of livelihood.

“Midi witnessed one of the largest mine-laying campaigns during the conflict, resulting in a humanitarian catastrophe for the region,” Al-Qusaibi said.

He directed engineering teams to intensify clearance operations and pledged continued technical and logistical support to ensure future plans are implemented efficiently and in line with internationally recognized mine-action safety standards.

Team leaders thanked the project’s management for its continued support and oversight of field operations, reaffirming their commitment to protecting civilians and clearing millions of square meters of agricultural and residential land in liberated areas of the northern Hajjah governorate.

Project Masam, launched by Saudi Arabia in 2018, works to clear landmines, unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices planted across Yemen, helping to reduce civilian casualties and facilitate the safe return of displaced communities.