Statement Issued by Mayyun for Human Rights on the Occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness

Aden 04/04/2026

On the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness, Mwatana for Human Rights renews its warning of the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe caused by landmines and naval mines in Yemen. These mines continue to pose one of the most dangerous direct threats to the lives and safety of civilians, constituting a grave violation by those who laid them of the principles of international humanitarian law and the rules protecting civilians during armed conflict.
Landmines continue to claim civilian lives on an almost daily basis, particularly among women, children, shepherds, farmers, fishermen, internally displaced persons, and travelers along roads and highways. They also leave behind permanent injuries and profound physical and psychological disabilities. Mayyun has documented the deaths of 1,367 individuals and the injury of 1,622 others between 2018 and March 2026 as a result of landmine and explosive device incidents, with children accounting for 30.44% of the victims. In addition, mines cause significant material damage to property, exacerbating the suffering of victims and their families and placing further burdens on communities already experiencing unprecedented humanitarian vulnerability.
Landmines have also rendered vast areas of agricultural land unusable, depriving thousands of families of their sources of income and undermining one of the key pillars of food security in Yemen. Their impact is not limited to land; it has extended to the sea, where naval mines in the Red Sea have restricted fishermen’s movements, destroyed their equipment, and denied them access to fishing areas, resulting in the loss of livelihoods for thousands of coastal families.
The organization further warns of the worsening risks in light of climate change, as floods and torrential rains contribute to the displacement of landmines from the areas where they were originally planted to populated regions. This increases the likelihood of indiscriminate casualties and complicates response and mitigation efforts.
In this context, it is important to highlight that escalating tensions in the Red Sea signal the potential use of naval mines as a tool of conflict. This development poses a serious threat to international maritime safety, increases the risk of mine proliferation, and expands restrictions on fishing activities, thereby exacerbating the food security crisis and deepening the humanitarian crisis.
In line with its human rights mandate, Mayyun for Human Rights calls for:
The immediate cessation of the use of all types of mines and full compliance with international humanitarian law.
Support for and acceleration of landmine clearance operations and the decontamination of affected areas, particularly frontlines, residential zones, agricultural lands, and coastal regions.
Strengthening mine risk education programs and ensuring their accessibility to the most vulnerable groups.
Providing comprehensive support to mine victims, including healthcare, rehabilitation, and psychosocial assistance.
Taking urgent international measures to reduce the risks posed by naval mines to international navigation and the livelihoods of fishermen.
Holding accountable those responsible for planting mines and ensuring that impunity does not prevail.
The efforts made by the Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance in Yemen (MASAM), which since commencing its operations in mid-2018 through December 2025 has succeeded in clearing 551,189 landmines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised explosive devices—and its commitment to regularly destroying what is removed—are appreciated by the organization.
We also urge other programs and engineering teams to intensify their efforts in clearing mines, particularly from residential areas, ensuring their safe destruction, and implementing continuous community awareness programs to warn of their dangers.
Addressing the landmine issue in Yemen represents an urgent humanitarian and human rights priority that requires an effective and coordinated international response—one that places the protection of civilians at the forefront and paves the way toward recovery and the restoration of livelihoods with dignity and safety.
Issued by Mayyun for Human Rights
Aden, April 4, 2025