Project Masam has cleared 600,000 landmines and other explosive threats across Yemen since operations began in 2018, according to the latest figures covering activities up to 30 October 2026.
Since the conflict escalated in 2014, large areas of Yemen have been contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war, particularly in formerly contested and strategically significant regions. Earlier estimates suggested that between one and two million mines had been laid nationwide by the Houthis, but those figures predate the latest escalation and are increasingly likely to understate the true scale of contamination given recent reports and visual evidence of fresh Houthi mine-laying in Taiz Governorate and along the Red Sea Coast. Project Masam has documented newly laid anti-tank mine belts, IEDs and renewed contamination in areas its teams had previously worked to clear.
The cumulative total now includes 7,842 anti-personnel mines, 153,384 anti-tank mines, 430,060 items of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and 8,714 improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Teams have also cleared 86,758,239 square metres of land since the project began.
During the latest reporting week, from 24 to 30 October, Project Masam teams removed 2,037 explosive threats, comprising 33 anti-personnel mines, 109 anti-tank mines, 1,890 items of UXO and five IEDs. Teams also cleared 255,046 square metres of land during the week.
The figures come amid renewed concern over explosive contamination as frontlines shift. Project Masam has recently documented fresh Houthi-laid anti-tank mine belts, IEDs and renewed contamination in parts of Taiz Governorate and along the Red Sea Coast, including areas previously subjected to humanitarian clearance.
Operations are continuing despite significant security and movement restrictions. Project Masam teams remain committed to humanitarian demining and reducing the threat posed by explosive ordnance to civilians, adapting operations as required by the prevailing security environment.
Special Tasks Team 1 continues to provide emergency-response coverage across Aden, Al Dhale, Abyan and Lahj. Special Tasks Team 2 retains responsibility for emergency response in Taiz and along the western coast, including Al Khokha, Al Mokha and Dhubab, although access to Houthi-controlled areas remains restricted by the security situation.
Project Masam teams continue to prioritise newly reported contamination, emergency tasks and access to civilian areas wherever security conditions allow, while maintaining established technical and safety standards.
