Heavy casualties of Houthi mines within 3 months

English - Monday 29 May 2023 الساعة 07:00 pm
Aden, NewsYemen:

Mines of the Houthi militia - the Iranian arm in Yemen - claimed the lives of 121 people during the first quarter of 2023, most of them in Hodaidah Governorate (west), according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The report, which was prepared based on data collected by the Yemeni Executive Mine Action Center, found that the majority of casualties were caused by landmines and unexploded ordnance on the western coast of Yemen, particularly in Hodaidah Governorate, followed by Al Jawf and Marib.

He pointed out that the heavy rains in these areas dislodged the explosive devices, which increased the possibility of their detonation among civilians.

The report emphasized that there are still millions of landmines and unexploded ordnance across the country, and these weapons will continue to kill and maim civilians for years to come.

The office called on the international community to provide more funding to support demining efforts in Yemen, stressing that the United Nations efforts to remove landmines and unexploded ordnance are necessary for millions of Yemenis to return to their homes and recover from the scourge of conflict in the country.

The report indicated that, in addition to clearance operations, the United Nations is also working to raise awareness among Yemeni civilians about the dangers of landmines and unexploded ordnance by conducting risk awareness campaigns and providing training to local communities and providing them with knowledge on how to identify and avoid these hazardous remnants.