Fighting an Invisible Danger: Clearing Landmines in Yemen
Yemen continues to face one of the gravest humanitarian crises in the world. Deepening food insecurity, high malnutrition rates, and periodic disease outbreaks have pushed the nation to the edge of collapse. Decades of warfare and economic breakdown have left millions struggling for survival.
The Hidden Threat Beneath the Ground
Adding to Yemen’s misery, landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) make the country even more perilous. These hidden explosives claim lives and obstruct recovery efforts. Over the past ten years, Yemen has reported the third largest number of landmine and ERW victims globally.
Regions Most Affected
- Taiz Governorate
- Hodeidah Governorate
Together, these two regions represent half of all recorded incidents. Once intense frontlines of battle, they remain scattered with deadly explosives that threaten civilians daily.
Efforts Toward Safety and Recovery
With humanitarian funding from the European Union, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) works to reduce these threats. Its operations aim to protect lives and restore livelihoods in affected communities, especially among internally displaced families.
DRC has cleared more than 23,302 square metres of land from mines and explosive remnants of war, giving people back safe ground for living and working.
This includes areas like the Alshami zone in Mawza, Taiz, where demining efforts have restored land once too dangerous to touch.
Author’s Summary
Yemen’s minefields remain a silent menace, but ongoing demining operations supported by the EU and DRC bring a fragile hope for safety and recovery.