»MASAM« Saudi Project for Landmine

Clearance

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Introduction:

Brutal crimes committed by the armed Houthi militias against the Yemeni people have been ongoing since the start of the conflict in their country. The militias have used various methods of violence to terrorize ordinary Yemeni citizens; the most dangerous of these is the indiscriminate planting of land mines and other explosive devices in populated areas throughout Yemen. Land mines have been found on farms, in crowded city streets and passageways, and along roadways.

The militias have not responded to calls by international human rights organizations to cease the use of these land and sea mines which have indiscriminately killed and injured thousands of innocent children, women and elderly. Instead, the militias continue to commit such crimes without answering to repeated demands from the international community to stop these crimes against humanity.

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Several separate reports from international human rights organizations have concluded that the Houthi militias have planted more than a million land mines in liberated parts of Yemen, killing and maiming thousands of civilians and impeding the return of large numbers of displaced people to their homes.

Every human being has the right to live a secure, dignified life. Not only are the lives of Yemeni citizens endangered every day, but the indiscriminate use of these devices also threatens regional security.

To address this serious ongoing threat to human life, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) launched MASAM, the Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance in Yemen. The program follows international standards and practices for landmine clearance, and was funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the amount of USD 40 million.

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MASAM:

Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance

The mission of the Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance (MASAM) is to clear Yemen of all land mines and other explosive devices. The program stems from purely humanitarian goals and follows international humanitarian initiatives and laws in carrying out its work.

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Project Information:

- 9,000,000 beneficiaries.

- Utilizes advanced, state-of-the-art demining technology and equipment.

- More than 400 specialists are now working throughout Yemen to clear land mines.

- Project’s first phase targets Ma’rib, Aden, Taiz and Sana’a, removing hazardous materials from ammunition, tank shells, land mines and booby traps.

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Figures

1,539fatalities (December

2014 – December 2016) , Yemen

٦٠٠,٠٠٠ mines in Yemen›s

liberated areas

13٠,٠٠٠ internationally-

banned sea mines

٤٠,٠٠٠landmines in Ma’rib

1٦,٠٠٠ mines on the island of

Mayon

3,٠٠٠civilian and

military injuries

1,78٠cases in need of artificial limbs in

2017, Yemen

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Project Objectives:

1- To address direct threats to the lives of the Yemeni people.

2- To clear Yemen of land mines, which have claimed the lives of thousands of children, women and the elderly.

3- To train Yemeni cadres in demining techniques, thereby establishing a sustainable demining program for the future.

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MASAM’s Areas of Operation

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Total number of land mines removed since the project began:

٤8.225

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MASAM’s Charter:

Dedication to Sparing the Yemeni People from the Nightmare of Life with Land Mines

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Members of the MASAM team have a unified mandate: to use their expertise to provide the Yemeni people with lives free from the threat of disability or death from encounters with explosive devices illegally planted throughout the country.

These demining experts, who have so selflessly devoted themselves to their dangerous occupation, were not themselves spared the deadly effects of these devices. Recently, five international demining professionals were killed and several others severely injured while in the line of duty. Despite this tragedy, the team was not deterred from continuing their courageous humanitarian work.

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