Project Masam clears over 7,000 explosive threats in Yemen in January 2026
The Saudi project for humanitarian landmine clearance in Yemen, Project Masam, has announced they cleared a total of 7,554 explosive items during January 2026.
Cleared in January included 52 anti-personnel mines, 369 anti-tank mines, 7,117 items of unexploded ordnance and 16 improvised explosive devices. According to Project Masam, these hazards were found in civilian areas, including villages, farmland, access routes and locations affected by fighting where "explosive contamination continues to restrict movement, livelihoods and access to essential services".
During the same period, Project Masam demining teams secured over 1.72 square kilometres of land, making residential communities, agricultural land, access routes and land surrounding key infrastructure available for use.
Over 500,000 threats cleared since 2018
Since operations began in July 2018 up to January 2026, Project Masam says their demining teams have located and cleared 537,505 landmines and explosives threats across Yemen.
The cumulative clearance includes 7,054 anti-personnel mines, 149,110 anti-tank mines, 372,979 items of unexploded ordnance and 8,362 improvised explosive devices. Through these operations, more than 77.2 square kilometres of land have been made safe for civilian use.
It is estimated that since the escalation of the conflict in Yemen in 2014, between one and two million mines have been laid nationwide, creating long term risks for civilians, agriculture, infrastructure and humanitarian operations.
