The hidden killer in Yemen… Houthi landmines claim innocent lives

In a staggering tally, Houthi militia mines claimed 121 lives in the first quarter of 2023, according to the latest UN report, which confirmed that areas of Yemen’s west coast saw more than half of all landmine casualties across the country and noted that mines were “responsible for 121 civilian casualties in the first quarter of 2023, down from 140 civilian casualties in the fourth quarter of 2022”.

Silent Death

According to the report, the decrease in the intensity of the confrontations in Hodeidah in the south facilitated greater freedom of movement for civilians in areas where the hostilities subsided, but it was not completely cleared of the remnants of mines, which caused many casualties. He noted that Hodeidah has consistently witnessed the highest number of victims of explosive remnants of war in the country, and after al-Jawf, where 19 civilian victims were reported as a result of mines, and then Marib with 8 victims. He explained that the governorates of al-Jawf and Marib witnessed several warnings of floodwaters resulting from heavy rains, which caused the sweeping of explosive canisters in recent months.

Booby-trapping Yemeni territory

“Large swaths of the country have been contaminated with millions of landmines, rendering many residential neighborhoods uninhabitable or dangerous, and Houthi militias have booby-trapped some nine Yemeni governorates with more than two million mines, says political analyst Abdul-Karim al-Ansi.”

The political analyst added that the landmines planted by the Houthi group continue to cause tragedies and suffering to children, women, men and the elderly on an almost daily basis, and disrupt public life and blockade civilians, calling for the international community to work “to end the mine disaster urgently and to initiate rapid measures to help uncover and clear the country of its maps.”

He said there is no map of mines or affected areas in Yemen, and there is no accurate count of casualties, but most areas reached by the Houthis, whether in southern or central Yemen, have become minefields, especially Taiz province, which is split between the conflicting fronts. Other parties and terrorist groups are also responsible.