RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has made significant efforts over the years to respond to humanitarian crises, conflicts, and natural disasters worldwide.
KSrelief has implemented demining projects in Yemen, Azerbaijan and Iraq, valued at more than $241 million, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Project Masam in Yemen has cleared 486,651 land mines and unexploded ordnance since its launch in mid-2018, according to a recent report.
This total is made up of 325,378 items of unexploded ordnance, 146,285 anti-tank mines, 8,212 improvised explosive devices, and 6,776 anti-personnel mines, according to Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the project鈥檚 managing director.
鈥淓very mine removed is a life potentially saved, a home reclaimed, a future restored. Demining is not just about removing explosives; it is about restoring hope, stability, and economic recovery,鈥 Al-Gosaibi said.
Last week, the project鈥檚 teams destroyed 511 unexploded items, 23 anti-tank mines, six anti-personnel mines, and three improvised explosive devices.
Mines planted indiscriminately by the Houthis in Yemen pose a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.
The project is executed by Saudi personnel and international experts, with a team of 550 staff and 32 trained clearance teams working to remove various types of mines and ordnance, the SPA reported.
Operations have taken place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale, and Saada. The initiative also trains local demining engineers and equips them with modern tools.
KSrelief also supports Yemenis injured by explosive devices. It has established a prosthetics program that so far has benefited 25,340 individuals.
The program sets out to restore hope to mine victims by providing high-quality prosthetics and training local staff in manufacturing techniques. The total value of prosthetics projects in Yemen exceeds $39 million, according to SPA.
Since the conflict began, about 5 million people have been displaced in Yemen, many the result of land mines. Masam teams work to clear villages, roads and schools, enabling the safe movement of civilians and delivery of humanitarian aid.
On April 4, KSrelief marked International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action by raising awareness about the dangers of landmines and calling for increased efforts to combat them, protect lives, build capacities in affected countries, and ease victims鈥 suffering.
Al-Gosaibi said: 鈥淎s one mine is cleared, dozens more are planted. This is not just a battle against explosives in the ground 鈥 it is a battle against the cycle of terror and suffering imposed on Yemeni civilians.
鈥淲e stand alongside millions of Yemenis to protect them from the imminent danger these weapons pose to their lives.鈥
KSrelief鈥檚 efforts to combat landmines extend beyond Yemen. In January 2024, the agency created financial grants to support landmine clearance in Azerbaijan, aiding reconstruction efforts and helping displaced people return home.
The goal is to improve the environment, protect civilians 鈥 especially women and children 鈥 build local capacities, ensure safe living conditions, maintain public health, and reduce the long-term impact of landmines on communities.
In April 2024, KSrelief also funded survey and clearance projects for cluster munitions and landmines in several Iraqi governorates. The initiative aims to create a safe, mine-free environment, enhance security, support livelihoods such as farming and livestock herding, and contribute to Iraq鈥檚 economic recovery.
