Thomas F. Schneider, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Yemen, visited the headquarters of Project Masam in Marib, where he was briefed on the project’s humanitarian efforts to clear landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) and reduce the threats they pose to civilians across Yemen.
During the visit, Ambassador Schneider, who was appointed in September 2025, highlighted the importance of humanitarian Mine Action and its role in protecting civilians in communities affected by conflict and explosive contamination.
According to Project Masam, Schneider said the visit had given him valuable insight into the project’s work and the challenges faced by demining teams operating in the field. He expressed his appreciation to the project’s leadership for the invitation and emphasised the significant humanitarian dimension of landmine contamination.
Schneider noted that Project Masam’s work represents a vital humanitarian effort to protect civilians from the dangers posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
“The humanitarian dimension of this issue is extremely significant, and that is why we support the work of Project Masam,” he said during the visit. “What they do is extremely important and represents a vital humanitarian effort to protect civilians, especially children.”
He reaffirmed Germany’s support for humanitarian demining activities and stressed the importance of continued efforts to address the threat posed by explosive hazards.
The ambassador also expressed hope for increased “national and international efforts” to combat landmines and strengthen awareness among civilians living in affected communities.
He said the visit had left a strong impression on him, reflecting both the scale of contamination in Yemen and the dedication of the demining teams working to protect local communities. He praised the project’s achievements in saving lives and helping to make large areas of land safe for civilian use.
During the visit, Sean Wells, Operations Manager of Project Masam in Marib, presented Ambassador Schneider and his accompanying delegation with a photographic exhibition featuring landmines and unexploded ordnance recovered from different parts of Yemen.
The exhibition also documented the impact of landmines on civilians, including women and children, and highlighted the work of Project Masam’s engineers and demining teams operating in the field.
Members of the German delegation were additionally briefed on Project Masam’s operational procedures, humanitarian activities, and the challenges involved in clearing contaminated land and protecting communities from explosive hazards.
At the conclusion of the visit, Ambassador Schneider expressed his appreciation for the work carried out by Project Masam and reiterated the importance of sustaining humanitarian demining efforts due to their direct role in protecting civilians and supporting recovery in affected communities.
