Like many farmers living in the resource-rich eastern Shabwah governorate, Abdullah Abdul Qadir was left fearing a landmine might end his life and that of his livestock. In 2015, the region and its Bayhan Directorate became a battleground between the Houthis and Pro-Yemeni government forces. As they retreated, the Houthis left behind landmines, unexploded ordnance and…
Naji Nasser was shepherding and dreaming of being successful in school when a landmine exploded, changing his life and that of his cousin, forever. Watch Naji’s story here. By clearing landmines, unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices scattered by Al Houthi militia, Project Masam is helping pave the way to Yemenis’ future recovery. Since mid-2018, Project…
A man of few words, Tawfiq Mohammad Abdallah Jalajel asked Project Masam to share his story – one sadly lived by many Yemenis survivors of landmine explosions. “I entered my home and at the door, there was an explosion, and lost consciousness. They planted mines everywhere,” Tawfiq said, as he condemned the Houthi militias’ use…
As the number of landmines and other explosive devices cleared by Project Masam’s teams since mid-2018 nears a quarter of a million, Project Masam caught up with Engineer Abdullah Jaribi to learn more about his role and his motivations. Abdullah, 35, started working in the field of mine action in 2015. Today, he leads Project…
Idriss Omar Saleh Mohammed, a cheerful young boy, whose hand and feet were amputated is an inspiration to those who cross his path. He was only small when a landmine exploded under him, as he was near his home. Whilst he survived the blast, he was sent to hospital in a critical situation. His right…
Mohamed Mahmoud Nasser Akish and his wife Aisha Ismail Ali Muhaim wished to share their story. “I was living in Al-Dinnin (Ta’iz province) when they forced us to flee,” Mohammed said. “During our displacement, we rode a three-wheeled motorcycle. I had eight children with me. They detonated us with a mine. Some flew over the…
Landmine explosions bring severe psychological trauma to those who survive them. Bassam Massawi was returning from a sea trip on Yemen’s West Coast with eight of his friends. “After we ended the trip, and were returning to the Al-Khawkha region in the Al Hudaydah Governorate, we were hit by a mine,” Bassam told Project Masam.…
Radwan Zaid Ibrahim was only a child when a landmine explosion shattered his leg. Now in his teens, Radwan told Project Masam how the blast affected his life: he walks with difficulty and can no longer play or work. Luckily, after Project Masam heard of the presence of landmines in Radwan’s area, demining teams entered…
Muharram Zaid was tending to his sheep and goats when he came across an object that looked like a rock. Intrigued, he picked it up. It exploded. “My right arm was amputated,” Muharram told Project Masam, as he took his goats and sheep to graze. “On the day of the accident I had 50 sheep…
Like hundreds of victims of landmines in Yemen, Amina Ibrahim was walking near her village when a mine exploded under her feet. “After the mine exploded, I didn’t feel anything anymore,” Amina told Project Masam from her home. Her right leg was amputated and she now wears a prosthetic leg to help her move around.…
