Geneva – On the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness, SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties highlights the ongoing humanitarian tragedy caused by landmines in Yemen, where civilians—especially children, women, and the elderly—continue to fall victim daily. The widespread and indiscriminate planting of landmines, particularly in residential areas, farmlands, and roads, has made Yemen one of the most affected countries by this internationally banned weapon. This has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, destroyed infrastructure, and increased civilian suffering. The organization calls on all relevant parties, including governments and international organizations, to take responsibility and implement immediate and practical measures to end the landmine crisis in Yemen.

Widespread Contamination and Catastrophic Impact on Civilians

The organization reports that Yemen faces massive contamination from both conventional and improvised landmines, with no precise assessment of the full scale of the problem. According to the Clearing the Mines 2024 report, Yemen suffers from heavy contamination with anti-personnel landmines, with no clear progress toward achieving the goal of clearing contaminated areas by 2025 under the Oslo Action Plan.

Statistics indicate that landmines have killed or injured more than 10,000 children as of August 2021, according to UNICEF. Furthermore, Human Rights Watch has documented widespread use of landmines by the Houthi group in villages, farmlands, and roads, leading to the deaths and injuries of thousands of civilians since 2015.

Shocking Statistics

The statement issued by SAM highlights that landmines have become one of the most serious threats facing civilians in Yemen, causing hundreds of casualties annually, including a large number of children and women. According to the organization’s statistics, more than 2,500 civilians have been killed or injured by landmine explosions since 2015, amid the continued planting of mines in residential areas, agricultural lands, and vital roads.

In 2023 alone, SAM documented dozens of deadly incidents caused by landmine explosions, with most victims being children who suffered fatal injuries or limb amputations while playing near their homes or in public roads. Tragic cases were also recorded of civilians losing their lives while trying to access water sources or tending to their livestock in contaminated areas.

Data from SAM reveals that landmines have been extensively planted in several Yemeni provinces, most notably Taiz, Hodeidah, Al-Jawf, Marib, Saada, Hajjah, and Shabwa. These landmines have disrupted the lives of hundreds of thousands of citizens, forcing many families to flee their villages in fear of the hidden dangers beneath the ground. The crisis has also deprived thousands of farmers of cultivating their lands, exacerbating the economic crisis and food insecurity in many rural areas. The organization continues to receive near-daily reports of injuries and fatalities due to landmines, underscoring the urgent need for immediate international action to eliminate this catastrophe and ensure a safe life for civilians free from the threat of deadly mines.

Stalled International Efforts

Despite ongoing efforts to clear landmines, SAM notes that security and political challenges have hindered the efficient implementation of demining programs. In 2023, donor countries suspended funding for the UNDP Emergency Mine Action Project, leading to the shutdown of 60 specialized demining teams and the suspension of survey and clearance operations, except in emergency cases. Additionally, the government-run Yemeni Mine Action Center (YEMAC) faces significant difficulties in securing the necessary equipment and resources, resulting in a decline in the area cleared from 2 km² in 2022 to just 0.18 km² in 2023.

Children: The Most Affected Victims

The organization emphasizes that children are the most vulnerable to landmines, as they are often drawn to unexploded ordnance while playing, leading to repeated tragic incidents. In one case documented by SAM, a landmine exploded in Maqbana District, Taiz Governorate, while children were playing, causing severe injuries among them. Additionally, landmines deprive children of access to schools and healthcare centers, deepening the war’s devastating impact on an entire generation.

Ongoing Violations of International Humanitarian Law

SAM stresses that the continued use of landmines constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, as they pose a persistent threat to civilian lives, destroy infrastructure, and hinder development. Numerous international agreements prohibit or restrict the use of landmines, most notably the 1997 Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of anti-personnel mines and mandates their destruction. Additionally, the Amended Protocol II of the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) regulates the use of anti-vehicle mines and emphasizes measures to protect civilians. The 1949 Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol I of 1977 also mandate the protection of civilians from the dangers of military operations, making the indiscriminate or unmarked planting of landmines a clear violation of international humanitarian law.

The organization further notes that parties to the conflict in Yemen, particularly the Houthi group, continue to use landmines on a large scale, which constitutes a war crime warranting international accountability.

Urgent Call for Action

Given the rising number of civilian casualties caused by landmines, SAM underscores the urgent need for decisive international action to compel all parties to the conflict in Yemen to immediately cease the use of landmines and work toward their removal to ensure civilian safety. The organization warns that failure to address this humanitarian disaster will result in more victims and continue to threaten the lives of thousands of innocent people who live in constant fear of hidden explosives in their homes, roads, and farmlands.

The organization urges the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities by resuming support for mine clearance programs, which were halted due to funding shortages in 2023, leading to the suspension of clearance operations and the shutdown of dozens of specialized teams. SAM stresses that Yemenis must not be left to face this crisis alone, calling for urgent funding to be provided to humanitarian organizations and demining entities to ensure the immediate resumption of clearance operations.

Finally, the organization reiterates that the continued planting of landmines, particularly in residential and agricultural areas, constitutes a gross violation of international humanitarian law and a war crime that must not go unpunished. This necessitates urgent investigations by international bodies, including the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure they face justice, preventing further impunity.