Geneva – SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties stated, in a statement issued on the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, which falls on April 4, that Yemen continues to suffer under the weight of one of the worst humanitarian disasters caused by landmines globally.

The organization emphasized that mines planted randomly and with unprecedented density continue to claim the lives of innocent civilians, obstruct livelihoods, and prevent hundreds of thousands of displaced persons from returning to their homes, in a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and human rights rules.

The organization pointed out that field monitoring of mine and unexploded ordnance incidents during 2025 reflected a bloody reality; documented explosions in the governorates of Hodeidah, Al-Jawf, Taiz, Al-Bayda, Lahj, and Hajjah resulted in the death of 18 civilians and the injury of 27 others with varying wounds and limb amputations. These tragedies were significantly concentrated among the most vulnerable groups, such as children and women, during livestock grazing or movement.

The documentation also showed a dangerous overlap between natural disasters and the worsening of the catastrophe, as floods washed away mines, transporting them to populated areas and farms, causing additional human and material losses, including the destruction of vehicles and the death of livestock, according to reports from the Yemeni Landmine Monitor.

The organization added that the bloodshed has continued at an alarming rate since the beginning of 2026 until the end of March, with reports documenting the death of 8 civilians and the serious injury of two children. The child segment recorded the highest percentage of victims during this short period as a result of explosions from mines and remnants of war while grazing sheep or playing near their homes in the governorates of Marib, Saada, Taiz, and Hajjah.

With the arrival of the recent weather depression, urgent warnings were launched after floods were observed sweeping mines, as well as camouflaged and plastic explosive devices, into residential areas and the surroundings of displacement camps in the districts of Al-Mokha and Hays, making the danger imminent and renewed.

"SAM" explained that humanitarian efforts on the ground, despite their extreme importance and the sacrifices of engineering teams, still face massive challenges due to the wide geographical scope of the disaster. The absence of minefield maps constitutes the most prominent obstacle for clearance teams, doubling the cost in time and effort and exposing the lives of field workers to imminent and continuous danger.

In this regard, the organization noted that the continuation of random planting operations, the use of innovative mines and camouflaged devices, in addition to natural factors such as torrential floods that transport these deadly objects to new areas, are all factors that impose a changing and worrying reality that exceeds the current capabilities of demining teams, necessitating the provision of advanced scanning technologies and sustainable international support to limit the expansion of this tragedy.

The organization noted the continuous warnings issued by foreign organizations, sources, and international relief agencies, which still classify Yemen as one of the world's most affected countries by mines and explosives from remnants of war. The organization called on these international parties not to reduce the support allocated to demining programs and mine risk awareness, as this would lead to an inevitable increase in the toll of civilian victims.

"SAM" concluded its statement by appealing to the international community, the Security Council, and global human rights organizations to exercise real and effective pressure to compel the parties involved to hand over minefield maps immediately. It also demanded intensified financial and logistical support for clearance programs and the provision of integrated medical and psychological care programs for victims, stressing that a sustainable peace process in Yemen cannot truly begin as long as these deadly seeds remain buried in its soil, lurking for the innocent.