Saudi Project ‘MASAM’ Destroys Over Four Thousand Explosive Items in Abyan, Southern Yemen
Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
The Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance in Yemen “MASAM” announced on Thursday the destruction of a large quantity of unexploded ordnance in Abyan Governorate (southern Yemen), where more than 4,000 explosive items were disposed of.
According to a statement issued by the project, the First Special Tasks Team of “MASAM” destroyed 4,146 pieces of ammunition and explosives remaining from the war, as part of its ongoing efforts to protect civilians and enhance security in affected areas.
The destroyed quantity included 21 shells of 152 mm caliber, 35 shells of 85 mm caliber, 33 mortar shells of 85 mm caliber, 31 shells of 100 mm caliber, in addition to 1,200 rounds of 7.62 mm caliber, 500 rounds of 50 mm caliber, and 2,000 “Manmi” rounds.
Also disposed of were 261 explosive fuses, 31 hand grenades, 15 armor-piercing projectiles, 10 anti-tank mines, and 9 anti-personnel mines.
It is worth noting that UN reports estimated the number of mines planted by the Houthi group in various regions of Yemen at around two million, which has caused the death and injury of more than 20,000 civilians, most of them women and children.
Human rights organizations accuse the group of “turning Yemen into the largest minefield in the world” and repeatedly call on it to hand over mine maps to enable demining teams to carry out their tasks safely.
