[15/08/2018 07:26]

MARIB-SABA
Some 310 thousand of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) were pulled out while there are still above one million more buried all planted by Iran-backed Houthi putschist militia, according the Executive Director of National Demining Program(NDP), Brigadier Ameen Al-Aqail.

In an interview with the Media Center of Armed Forces, Al-Aqail blamed Houthi militia for massively and randomly planting landmines throughout all Yemeni provinces came under its control.

Al-Aqaili noted that Republic of Yemen joined Ottawa Treaty in 1998 which criminalize planting, manufacturing, exporting and importing anti-individuals landmines. Accordingly, Yemen's landmines store was destroyed in 2007.

He stated that the (NDP) backed by Arab Coalition managed to pull out 16 thousands of landmine from the Island of Myoun which located in Bab Al-Mandeb Strait.

" There are 32 engineering teams working on demining in different Yemeni province", said Al-Aqaili. He added that The NDP, Saudi Demining Project in Yemen "Masam" Engineering Military Department all are working together on demining.

In 2017 alone, 750 people killed by landmines and 1700 more wounded by landmines planted by the putschist militiamen, according to the NDP.

In Taiz province, the Houthis planted landmines in 18 districts out of the province 32 districts, 1200 landmines were pulled out within a couple of two months only.

While in Marib province nine out of the 14 districts are invested with landmines, some 37 thousand mines were extracted until now. Whereas all districts in Al-Jawf province are massively planted by landmines.

Some 50 thousand of landmines were pulled out from the province of Aden, however there are still much more under beneath.

For Lahj province, there only three districts landmines were not planted in.

The two provinces of Hajah and Sa'ada are extensively plagued by numerous landmines, according brigadier Al-Aqaili.

Al-Aqaili stated that landmines are considered to be a major problem for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) that discouraging them to return back to their own origin regions because of the landmines planted randomly everywhere by the militia.

Brigadier Al-Aqaili deeply appreciated the Saudi Demining Program in Yemen, known as "Masam". He described Masam as live-saving project." The Saudi Demining Program (Masam) came as a life-saving project for the Yemeni people", said Al-Aqaili.

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