Houthi continue to plant mines in Yemen

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) published a new report, revealing that mines are posing a major risk to the security and safety of all civilians in war-ravaged Yemen.

The report indicates that 348 Yemenis were death in 2020 because of the explosives, but without directly accusing Iran-backed Houthi militias, who are responsible for planting mines around the country.

Indeed, the legitimate government blames the Houthis after they were placed more than a million mines in areas that they control. Also, Yemeni activists criticized UN agencies for their unjustified backing for the Houthis through aid in mine permission programs. They also affirmed that the militias are responsible for placing mines and must be held accountable.

Furthermore, activists alerted that UN four-wheel drive vehicles given to Houthis could be used by the militias to place more mines in the contact lines and near the country’s west coast.

Otheriwse, the Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance in Yemen (Masam), declared the dismantling of 2,277 mines and weapons during the last week of March, reaching the total of explosive objects neutralized by the mission to 10,240 in only that month.

On Sunday, Masam affirmed in an official statement that it has eliminated 230,592 mines and unexploded weapons from the battle-tired country.

The UNDP report also said: Littered across the country, mine and unexploded ordnance contamination is a major risk of death and injury to civilians as 348 people perished in 2020. Shadowed under an ever-present fear that degrades community social structures, contamination also destroys livelihoods and has a significant negative impact on the wider economy.

It also said: Perseverance is a key component of UNDP’s national Mine Action Project and its partners to mitigate the long-term disproportionate impact of mines in Yemen. Together, we continue to build national capacity for removing threats posed by mines and unexploded remnants of war.

Indeed, the UNDP is now working with the Yemen Executive Mine Action Centre (YEMAC) that follows the National Mine Action Committee (NMAC), to contribute to enhancing operations in the Middle Eastern country.

On his part, Auke Lootsma, UNDP’s Yemen resident representative stated that ongoing cooperation between UNDP and YEMAC has resulted in the restoration of thousands of livelihoods, strengthened local demining capacity – including the certification of Yemen’s first woman deminer – and assisted Yemen with the implementation of key mine action convention obligations.