Saudi demining project clears nearly half a million explosives in Yemen
RIYADH: A Saudi-led humanitarian initiative in Yemen has cleared 486,651 land mines and unexploded ordnance since the project began in mid-2018, according to a recent report.
These include 325,378 items of unexploded ordnance, 146,285 anti-tank mines, 8,212 improvised explosive devices, and 6,776 anti-personnel mines, according to Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the project's managing director.
Project Masam, overseen by the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, continues to remove deadly devices laid in Yemen by the Houthis. These explosives pose a threat to civilians, including children, women, and the elderly.
Last week, the project's special teams destroyed 511 items of unexploded ordnance, 23 anti-tank mines, six anti-personnel mines, and three improvised explosive devices.
The project is carried out by Saudi personnel and international experts, with a team of 550 staff and 32 trained clearance teams working to remove various types of mines and ordnance, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Demining operations have taken place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale, and Saada.
The initiative also trains local demining engineers and equips them with modern tools. Additionally, it provides support to Yemenis injured by these devices.
'Every mine removed is a life potentially saved, a home reclaimed, a future restored. Demining is not just about removing explosives; it is about restoring hope, stability, and economic recovery,' Al-Gosaibi said.
Since the conflict began, about 5 million people have been displaced in Yemen, many due to land mines. Masam teams work to clear villages, roads and schools, enabling the safe movement of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Saudi Gazette
3 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
420,070 personnel served 1.67 million pilgrims during Hajj 2025: GASTAT
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) on Tuesday released its official Hajj 2025 Statistical Bulletin, revealing that 420,070 individuals from both the public and private sectors, including security agencies, served the 1,673,230 pilgrims who performed Hajj this year. Of those working in the service of pilgrims, 92% were men and 8% were women. The total also included 34,540 volunteers — male and female — who collectively contributed 2,134,398 volunteer hours within the holy sites during the Hajj season. GASTAT's data also showed that 314,337 pilgrims benefited from the 'Makkah Route Initiative,' representing 20.9% of all foreign pilgrims. The initiative, launched in 2017, streamlines the arrival process for pilgrims from eight countries by conducting pre-travel immigration procedures. The bulletin reaffirmed previously released figures, stating that a total of 1,673,230 pilgrims performed Hajj this year. This included 1,506,576 foreign pilgrims arriving through various entry points and 166,654 domestic pilgrims, comprised of both Saudi citizens and of the total pilgrim count, 877,841 were men and 795,389 were said its data relies on administrative records from the Ministry of Interior, providing a high degree of reliability and accuracy. These records cover the full range of pilgrim demographics and services provided, following a statistical methodology applied consistently over the past five years.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Arab News
Saudi aid agency KSrelief delivers food to needy
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's aid agency KSrelief has distributed 360 food packages to vulnerable individuals in Lebanon's cities of Tripoli and Jbeil, benefiting 1,800 people. The distribution is a part of the 2025 emergency food and clothing aid project in Lebanon, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the charity distributed 1,780 sacrificial animals in the Al-Madinah and Al-Wadi districts of Yemen's Marib governorate on Sunday. The initiative benefited 3,560 families under an Eid Al-Adha project in Yemen.
Saudi Gazette
3 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
Certificates of appreciation awarded to 420,000 Hajj Mission participants
Saudi Gazette Report MAKKAH — The Supreme Hajj Committee has extended its gratitude to more than 420,000 men and women, who contributed to serving pilgrims during the 1446 AH Hajj season by issuing digital certificates of appreciation through the Tawakkalna app. Secretary General of the Supreme Hajj Committee Khalid Al-Saykhan said that a total of 420,070 participants in the Hajj mission were recognized through the Tasreeh platform, developed by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) and supervised by the committee's secretariat. Al-Saykhan emphasized that the initiative reflects the success of the integrated system overseen by the Supreme Hajj Committee and highlights the importance of institutional cooperation during the Hajj season. He noted that this is the first initiative of its kind, using digital tools to acknowledge the dedication of Hajj workers. The electronic certificates serve as a symbolic gesture, reinforcing a sense of pride and appreciation among those who worked tirelessly to ensure the safety, comfort, and spiritual fulfillment of the pilgrims.
