Ousama Algosaibi, Project Masam’s Managing Director, has expressed his deepest gratitude and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for their unwavering humanitarian efforts, which have benefited people in need around the world.
In a press statement marking the announcement by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) of the extension of the Project Masam’s mission in Yemen for a ninth consecutive year, Algosaibi emphasised that the project represents a vital component of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support for the Yemeni people.
Algosaibi also commended the support provided by His Excellency President Dr Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, as well as the cooperation of all relevant government institutions. He praised their efforts in facilitating the project’s mission in Yemen and overcoming challenges, enabling Masam to continue carrying out its humanitarian work to protect civilians and clear Yemeni land of deadly explosive threats.
Algosaibi noted that Project Masam has made significant sacrifices over the past eight years, losing 33 of its personnel in the line of duty. He emphasised that, from the first day of operations in Yemen, all project staff have remained committed to a single objective: achieving a Yemen free from the threat of mines.
He added that between the project’s launch in mid-June 2018 and 12 June 2026, Masam successfully cleared and destroyed 567,182 landmines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and items of unexploded ordnance (UXO). These included 151,554 anti-tank mines, 7,358 anti-personnel mines, 8,464 IEDs and 399,806 items of UXO. During the same period, Masam teams cleared 81,343,277 square metres of Yemeni land.
The managing director explained that last year the number of operational teams was increased to 42 in response to the growing need for demining activities across Yemen. He stressed that the country continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis due to the ongoing planting of mines by the Houthi militia in civilian areas.
“The planting of mines has not stopped for a single day,” Algosaibi said. “There is not a single part of Yemeni territory that can be considered safe from the threat of Houthi mines. We have found them in schools, farms, water wells and on roads. In all of these places, the victims are often children, women and elderly people.”
Algosaibi further explained that, alongside its field operations, the project continues to invest in training and qualifying Yemeni deminers under the supervision of Saudi and international experts. He also expressed his appreciation to the National Mine Action Committee, headed by Major General Amin Saleh Al-Aqili, for its continued cooperation and support.
