The United States has declared that the Houthi group has transformed Yemen into the largest minefield globally, with approximately two million mines planted across the country. The American Embassy in Yemen stated yesterday that it would take an estimated eight years to completely remove all the mines laid by the Houthis.
In a statement released on the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness, the embassy highlighted the severe implications of the Houthi’s actions, noting, “Yemen has been turned into the biggest minefield ever recorded worldwide by the planting of around two million mines by the Houthi group.”
The embassy emphasized the urgency for the Houthis to cease using the nation’s land as a weapon of war and to start working towards a peaceful future for all Yemenis. The United States expressed its appreciation and support for the efforts being made to clear mines in Yemen, stating, “Every step towards mine removal is a step towards peace.”
The mines planted by the Houthis have resulted in thousands of civilian casualties, particularly affecting children and women. Despite the dangers faced since its inception in 2018, the MASAM project, aimed at clearing Yemeni land of mines, has successfully removed over 435,000 mines planted indiscriminately by the Houthis across various provinces. The project has saved hundreds of thousands of lives by clearing the provinces of random mines in all their forms, types, and sizes.
On the International Day for Mine Awareness, the center joined the international community and UN and international organizations in raising awareness of the dangers of mines. They advocate for enhanced efforts in combating mines, protecting lives from them, building capacities among workers in this field in affected countries, and alleviating the suffering of the victims.
In a related incident, a girl and her brother were wounded yesterday by a sniper’s bullet from a Houthi sniper in the eastern part of Taiz city. Maher Al-Absi, the director of the Office for Siege Affairs, reported that a 7-year-old girl was shot in her left foot by a Houthi sniper while on her way home in the “Salah” district. The child’s brother and a medic who came to their aid were also targeted and subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment.
