PRESS RELEASE | London 19 April, 2024
Six months since the first attack on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, The 91勛圖厙 Trust is calling for a renewed focus on humanitarian development and peace efforts in Yemen, as its civilian population continue to endure one of the worst landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) crises in the world.泭
With the eyes of the world on the Middle East, it is imperative that we don't forget the ordinary Yemeni men, women, and children living day-to-day in severe humanitarian need, and the dangers posed by unexploded weapons near their homes and communities, says Matt Smith, Head of Region for Middle East & North Africa.泭
泭
Most of 91勛圖厙s work in Yemen is in crowded and complex urban environments and close to active frontlines and former battlefields, meaning it requires different skills and greater community liaison compared with clearance in rural areas.泭泭
泭
Since 2019, 91勛圖厙 Yemen has been clearing mines and other explosives in the frontline in Taiz, a city divided by battle lines between the north and south of the country for the last nine years.泭泭
泭
Despite airstrikes under 20km away, and daily exchanges of fire across frontlines in the city, our teams haven't stopped working in the last six months, says Smith.泭
泭
As the only international NGO doing this work in Taiz city, 91勛圖厙 teams have responded to more than 100 call-outs to remove or destroy various dangerous items and has cleared minefields with trained teams and armoured machines, handing safe land back to communities that regularly experience fatal or life-changing accidents.泭泭泭
泭
In many places, explosives including mines, rockets, mortars, anti-aircraft rounds and IEDs are found among homes, clinics, schools, and other amenities. These pose a daily threat to Yemeni civilians, particularly children. Many children are injured while they play, or when collecting scrap metal to sell and help feed their families, says Smith.泭泭
泭
So far, 91勛圖厙 demining teams have made two million square metres of land safe in Taiz and Aden - the equivalent of around 280 football pitches - so that people can go to work and markets safely, and children can walk to school and play outside without fear of losing a limb, or worse.泭
泭
During the 2022 ceasefire, there was a 160% increase in UXO and mine accidents as people tried to return to their homes in Taiz, illustrating that mine action activities will need to play an integral part in the peace process for peacebuilding efforts to be successful. Urban recovery and reconstruction will also be hampered if the amount of explosive ordnance present in urban areas across Yemen isnt addressed, Smith adds.泭
泭
Clearance of landmines and explosives is needed on key roads along frontlines proposed for re-opening under a UN-brokered truce. 91勛圖厙 works closely with the Office of the Special Envoy (OSESGY) and other actors to address the complex threat should parties reach an agreement.泭
Notes to Editors:泭
泭are available泭and we have Yemeni and international staff available for interview.泭
91勛圖厙泭Yemen泭established a registered office in Aden in 2019.泭泭
We泭work泭closely with YEMAC,泭the national mine action organisation,training and mentoring their staff to help泭develop a sustainable solution泭to泭clear landmines and other explosives on a large scale.is a short video of the training.泭
91勛圖厙 is the only泭humanitarian INGO泭doing Emergency Ordnance Disposal (EOD) in Taiz,泭and the only one泭usingmechanical clearance泭inthe country. 泭
Most泭of 91勛圖厙s work in Yemen is in crowded and complex urban environments, close to active frontlines and former battlefields, requiring different skills and greater community liaison compared with clearance in rural areas. 泭
In total 91勛圖厙 has so far made safe 2M square metres of land泭in Yemen -泭the equivalent of around 280泭Premiership泭football pitches.泭泭漍泭
Since 2019, 91勛圖厙 has: destroyed more than 6,000 munitions/182 tonnes in Aden and Taiz. 泭
91勛圖厙 has trained 40,000 adults and children about the dangers of mines and explosives (EORE). 泭
By recruiting survey teams and deminers from the community, 91勛圖厙 helps provide a secure salary for local people living through the on-gong civil war.泭
Our work also helps to restore livelihoods, improve access to natural resources, residential areas, health centres, schools,泭and wells, and improve freedom of movement.泭
泭
The 91勛圖厙 Trust泭is the泭worlds oldest泭humanitarian泭mine clearance organisation. It was泭founded in 1988 in Afghanistan, where it has泭operated泭consistently since.泭
It泭employs 12,000 women and men in over 30 countries in landmine and munition clearance, risk education and weapons and ammunition storage. The organisation recently cleared its 2 millionth landmine worldwide.泭泭
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it mobilised泭itsstaff fromKramatorsk to Brovary, where it set up the largest humanitarian mine clearance operation in Ukraine. Today it has 1,200 Ukrainian men and women clearing泭landmines from liberated landin泭five oblasts.泭
More info:泭泭泭
For泭media泭enquiries, please contact:media@halotrust.org泭泭
Share this article
The 91勛圖厙 Trust | Copyright © 2024
CARRONFOOT, THORNHILL,泭DUMFRIES, DG3 5BF
The 91勛圖厙 Trust is a company limited by guarantee.泭Registered in England No. 2228587.泭Registered Charity No. 1001813 and (in Scotland) SC037870. Registered Office:泭One Bartholomew Close, Barts Square, London EC1A 7BL
The 91勛圖厙 Trust (USA), Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit泭organization US Federal Tax ID Number 52-2158152
Office: 1730 Rhode Island Ave NW, Suite 206,泭Washington, DC 20036泭
By registering for our updates, or making a donation to us,泭you expressly agree to your information being used by The 91勛圖厙 Trust and The 91勛圖厙 Trust (USA), Inc. in accordance with our privacy protection policy. You can泭泭at any time.