Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) has extended the contract for implementing the Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance (Masam) in Yemen for a year, for an amount of SR125.98 million ($33.59 million).

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, adviser at the Royal Court and general supervisor of KSRelief, thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman for their great humanitarian and relief efforts in a number of countries in the world, particularly in Yemen.

He said that the Masam project has been instrumental in clearing as many as 263,428 mines and shells. “The renewal of this contract with the implementing partner emanates from the center’s sense of the humanitarian responsibility toward the brothers in Yemen,” he said while emphasizing the significance of the qualitative project in completing the cleansing of Yemeni lands from mines manufactured and planted by the Houthi militia in an unprecedented random manner, and in various forms and camouflages.

Dr. Al-Rabeeah noted that these mines targeted defenseless civilians, and caused permanent injuries, chronic disabilities, and numerous human losses hitting women, children and the elderly, apart from other acts threatening security and life.

The Masam project is being implemented by Saudi cadres and international experts through Yemeni teams that have been trained to dismantle mines in all their forms and sizes. The project also covers the provision of training and capacity-building activities in the field of demining.

Masam is one of the several initiatives undertaken by Saudi Arabia in line with the directives of King Salman to help ease the suffering of Yemeni people caused by the reckless planting of mines by the Houthi militias. Its objectives include the early and rapid clearance of landmines and explosive remnants of war from the Yemeni territory, clearance of roads to allow safe passage of humanitarian goods, including medical supplies, as well as to ensure the safety of schools and playgrounds from mines.