The “Masam” project for clearing Yemeni lands of mines, affiliated with the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid, continued to achieve its field accomplishments in securing the lives of civilians, as it was able during the week extending from December 27, 2025 to January 2, 2026, to remove 736 mines and unexploded ordnance planted in various areas of Yemen, threatening the lives of innocent people and undermining livelihoods.
The explosives successfully neutralized by the engineering teams included four anti-personnel mines, 59 anti-tank mines, 672 pieces of unexploded ordnance, and one improvised explosive device (IED). These operations took place across several Yemeni governorates. In Aden Governorate, 379 pieces of unexploded ordnance were removed, while in Qa'tabah District of Al Dhale' Governorate, an anti-personnel mine was cleared. In Hajjah Governorate, specifically in Midi District, the team removed 29 anti-tank mines, 69 pieces of unexploded ordnance, and one IED.
Details of field operations
Field teams continued to expand the safe zone. In Al-Mudharabah district of Lahj governorate, unexploded ordnance was removed, while Marib governorate witnessed intensive efforts that resulted in the removal of 27 anti-tank mines and 170 pieces of unexploded ordnance. Taiz governorate also saw a significant share of the clearance operations, with the removal of 5 pieces of ordnance in Al-Mukha, an anti-personnel mine, two anti-tank mines, and 38 pieces of ordnance in Dhubab, in addition to clearing the districts of Maqbanah and Saluh of several mines and various types of ordnance.
Project Masam: A safety fence for Yemenis
With this weekly tally, the total number of mines and unexploded ordnance removed since the launch of the MASAM project has risen to 530,687. This figure is a stark indicator of the extent of mine contamination plaguing Yemeni lands, where these mines were planted indiscriminately in residential areas, roads, farms, and schools, turning the lives of innocent civilians—children, women, and the elderly—into a daily nightmare.
The Masam project holds immense strategic and humanitarian importance; it is not limited to military operations involving explosive ordnance removal, but represents a fundamental pillar for the return to normalcy. Every mine removed means saving a life, enabling a farmer to return to his land, and a student to attend school safely. These efforts stem from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's moral and humanitarian commitment to the brotherly Yemeni people.
The leading role of the King Salman Relief Center
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through its humanitarian arm, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, continues to dedicate all its material and logistical resources to supporting the Masam project. These ongoing efforts underscore the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people, not only through food and medical aid, but also by addressing the root causes of death and disability, thereby ensuring a safe and stable future for Yemen and its people.
