KSrelief project clears 357،788 Houthi mines in Yemen

English version

اليمن العربي


The Saudi government has deactivated 357،788 land mines in Yemen laid by Houthi militia، clearing routes for much-needed humanitarian aid aimed at supporting the country’s embattled citizens.

Implemented by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center، the Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance in Yemen dismantled 1،030 mines in the second week of September.

This figure includes 26 anti-personnel mines، 123 anti-tank mines، 880 unexploded ordinances and one explosive device.

The project is one of several initiatives undertaken by Saudi Arabia on the orders of King Salman to help ease the suffering of the Yemeni people.

The demining took place in Marib، Aden، Jouf، Shabwa، Taiz، Hodeidah، Lahij، Sanaa، Al-Bayda، Al-Dhale and Saada.

More than 1.2 million mines have been planted by the Houthis، claiming the lives of hundreds of civilians.

The Saudi project trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also provides support to Yemenis injured by the devices.

In June، the project’s contract was extended for another year at a cost of $33.29 million.

Yemen is among the top beneficiaries of KSrelief assistance. The center has implemented 724 projects in Yemen، costing more than $4.1 billion.

Its programs include food security، water sanitation and hygiene، health، education، emergency aid، nutrition، protection، early recovery، logistics and telecommunication.

Worldwide، KSrelief has implemented 2،086 projects worth almost $6 billion in 86 countries. The initiatives have been carried out in cooperation with 175 local، regional and international partners since the inception of the center in May 2015.

Yemen has been mired in a war since the Houthi militia overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces، including the capital Sanaa، in 2014.

Saudi Arabia has been leading a military Arab coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the former government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after the Houthis forced him into exile

Washington on September 14 from travel to the United Arab Emirates، Saudi Arabia، and Oman. 

In his meetings، he found unanimous agreement that the Yemen truce – which is set to expire on October 2 – continues to represent the best opportunity for peace in years and has brought a period of unprecedented calm and hope for Yemenis who have faced years of war and suffering. Further، all counterparts expressed their support for an expanded truce agreement that includes paying civil servants، improving freedom of movement through road openings، moving fuel quickly through the ports، and expanding commercial flights from Sana’a airport.

Lenderking welcomed efforts by the Republic of Yemen Government to ensure that benefits of the truce reach all Yemenis، including through recent extraordinary measures to avert a fuel crisis following a Houthi order that led to a backlog of ships.

Q Now is the time for the Houthis to cease actions that jeopardize the truce، cooperate with the UN، and support an expanded truce agreement that will bring new benefits to millions of Yemenis، including getting money into the hands of tens of thousands of teachers، nurses، and other civil servants who have worked for too long without pay.

In order to put Yemen on the path to peace and recovery، all parties must be willing to make compromises and prioritize a brighter future for Yemen. The United States remains committed to advancing efforts to secure a durable and inclusive peace agreement for all Yemenis that includes their calls for justice and accountability.

Yemen has been mired in a war since the Houthi militia overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces، including the capital Sanaa، in 2014.

Saudi Arabia has been leading a military A ش٤ل٨٤rab coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the former government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after the Houthis forced him into exile.