Project Masam has conducted a field inspection and mine risk awareness campaign at a scrap metal market in Hays District, Hudaydah Governorate, as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce the dangers posed by unexploded ordnance (UXO) and promote safe practices among workers operating in high-risk environments.
Hudaydah has remained one of Yemen’s most heavily contaminated governorates since the 2018 Stockholm Agreement, a United Nations-brokered ceasefire intended to halt fighting around the strategic Red Sea port. While the agreement reduced large-scale hostilities, extensive contamination from landmines and other explosive remnants of war continues to endanger civilians across the region.
Engineer Othman Al-Jahouri, Leader of Project Masam Team 20, said the campaign forms part of the project’s ongoing field outreach programmes aimed at reducing the risks posed by unexploded ordnance (UXO), particularly in scrap metal markets where workers may unknowingly come into contact with hazardous explosive items.
Al-Jahouri explained that the team focused on raising workers’ awareness of the importance of immediately reporting any object suspected to be unexploded ordnance. He also stressed the need to avoid touching, moving or attempting to dismantle suspicious items, emphasising that following these safety measures helps protect lives and prevent accidents.
Ali Abdullah Salem Jaradi, owner of the scrap yard in Hays District, said the campaign had helped increase workers’ awareness of the dangers posed by explosive remnants of war and provided them with clear guidance on the correct procedures to follow when encountering suspicious objects.
Muhannad Mohammed Fatini Aimer, a worker at the site, said the awareness programme had provided him and his colleagues with practical information about the different types of explosive remnants of war, how to recognise them, and the appropriate actions to take if they discovered a suspicious item. He expressed confidence that the training would improve workplace safety and help reduce the risk of accidents.
Scrap metal markets are common across many parts of Yemen, providing an important source of income for local communities. However, workers often come from vulnerable backgrounds and may have limited access to formal education or life-saving safety information, making targeted Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) essential to reducing the risk of accidents.
According to Project Masam, the campaign forms part of a broader series of field awareness initiatives being implemented across Yemen to strengthen community understanding of the dangers posed by landmines, UXO, and other explosive remnants of war. The initiative also supports wider efforts to protect civilians by promoting a culture of safety and encouraging the prompt reporting of suspicious objects to the relevant authorities.
