Yemen: Landmines and War Remnants Claim Over 11,800 Civilian Lives

Landmines and unexploded ordnance in Yemen continue to inflict a devastating toll on civilians, with a recent human rights report indicating at least 11,807 casualties since the conflict began. This makes Yemen one of the world's most perilous environments due to the contamination of war remnants.

The report, titled "The Hidden Killer: A Report on the Spread of Mines and War Remnants in Yemen," by the Makha Center for Strategic Studies, cited data from the Landmine Monitor that documented 4,262 civilian deaths and 7,491 injuries. The center warned that these figures represent a minimum, given the difficulties in accessing vast contaminated areas.

The threat posed by these devices is no longer confined to former combat zones. The report highlighted that mines and explosive remnants have infiltrated residential neighborhoods, rural roads, farms, water sources, and flood channels, exposing civilians to daily danger even after fighting has ceased in many regions. The planting of mines, which the Houthi militia has been accused of since its takeover of Sana'a in 2014, has adopted widespread patterns, targeting vital civilian areas with camouflage and designs that make detection exceedingly difficult, thereby escalating the risks for children, women, farmers, and herders.

The consequences extend beyond immediate casualties, causing widespread permanent disabilities, limb amputations, disrupting agricultural activities, restricting population movement, and delaying the return of thousands of displaced individuals. These effects exacerbate the economic and social burdens in a nation already grappling with one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises.

In response, the report detailed the efforts of the Masam Project for Mine Clearance, launched by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre in 2018. By the end of July 2026, the project's 33 field teams had cleared 83.7 million square meters of land and removed 578,226 mines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised explosive devices. This included 409,726 pieces of unexploded ordnance, 152,285 anti-tank mines, 7,604 anti-personnel mines, and 8,611 improvised explosive devices.

During July alone, the project teams cleared 7,101 pieces of war remnants, averaging nearly 229 items daily, and cleared approximately 1.6 million square meters. Tragically, 32 project workers, including five foreign experts, have lost their lives during clearance operations since the project's inception. Osama Al-Qaseebi, Director General of the Masam Project, noted the significant challenges faced by teams due to the lack of accurate minefield maps, necessitating comprehensive, meter-by-meter surveys and the creation of geo-referenced databases based on field discoveries. He also indicated that mine-laying has concentrated on areas directly impacting civilian life, such as roads, farms, and water sources, and noted instances of mines being re-laid in previously cleared areas following shifts in military control.

The report concluded that the mine problem in Yemen will remain a humanitarian and developmental challenge for decades, with repercussions extending beyond casualties to hindering income sources, impeding reconstruction, and increasing the cost of stabilization in affected areas. The report called for the continuation of mine clearance operations, increased support for field teams, expanded community awareness programs, and enhanced documentation of mine locations and war remnants to reduce further civilian casualties.