Yemen remains one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. With deteriorating food security, soaring malnutrition rates, and recurring epidemic outbreaks, the country is on the brink of collapse.
On top of Yemen’s many crises, landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) have made the country even more dangerous. Years of conflict and economic collapse have left people struggling to survive. Now, hidden explosives in the ground continue to take lives and block any chance of recovery.
Over the last 10 years, Yemen has had the third highest number of landmine and ERW casualties in the world. The governorates of Taiz and Hodeidah are the worst affected. Together, they account for half of all cases in the country. Once frontlines of heavy fighting, these areas are still filled with explosives. Civilians face danger every day, with their safety and security constantly under threat.
With the support from the European Union’s (EU) humanitarian funding, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) undertakes humanitarian mine action operations to reduce these risks and protect the lives and livelihoods of people in affected communities, including internally displaced persons.
DRC has cleared more than 23,302 square metres of land from mines and explosive remnants of war until now, restoring vital spaces for livelihoods and daily life.
Restoring safety
This is a minefield in the Alshami area in Mawza, Taiz. Mine clearance is a painstaking and dangerous process, carried out under strict technical and operational standards. Each step is slow and high-risk, as deminers work around deadly explosives. Equipped with personal protective gear and specialised tools such as metal detectors and prodding needles, the team prepares to step onto the contaminated ground.
With careful precision, they examine the ground to detect and safely remove hidden explosives. Their work is not only about clearing land—it is about restoring safety, enabling families to return home, giving local communities a chance to live in a safe environment, and rebuilding their lives.
After a long and meticulous operation, the team successfully removed the hidden dangers from the contaminated land. The impact of these efforts on local communities is immense. Families can now use the land for agriculture and farming while previously blocked roads are being reopened, allowing residents to move safely again.
From safety to a better future
Hamza is a livestock herder from Al-Hamli in Mawza. He lives with his wife and their 9-month-old baby. When landmines were discovered around his village, daily life changed. Families, including Hamza’s, became too afraid to go outside. They stayed inside their homes, unable to herd animals, work, or even move freely in their own community.
Beyond the dangers of landmines, Hamza and his neighbours face other daily hardships, including the lack of electricity and water. Yet, despite these challenges, his gratitude shines through: ‘We thank DRC and the EU for their tremendous work in clearing landmines from our area, making most regions safe, ’ he says.
For Hamza, the clearance work means more than just safety—it represents the possibility of a better future.
‘Peace and security are very important for people. I hope our country will be safe in the future, and that we can live in peace while our children receive an education,’ Hamza adds.
Abdulhamid is a father of 5 and a livestock herder. He had to leave his home because of landmines and unexploded ammunition. Now he lives in Alshami, sharing a single small room with 7 family members. Landmines are still a danger, but clearance work in the area gives his family hope for a safer future.
‘We are thankful for all the efforts in clearing landmines from our area, ’ Abdulhamid says, recognising how vital this support is.
Training to raise awareness
Alongside clearance operations, DRC continues to raise awareness about the dangers of explosive ordnances. Through EU-funded explosive ordnance risk education sessions, more than 53,000 people have been trained to recognise threats and protect themselves. Landmines hamper access to services
Muriel Cornelis, Head of the EU Humanitarian Aid Office in Yemen, highlights how vital this EU response is in the country.
‘The presence of landmines and ERW, beyond resulting in direct casualties, is hampering access to vital services such as health posts and schools, and not allowing people to access their land for farming or moving freely, ’ reports Muriel.
She continues,‘The recent floods have displaced ERW and landmines, expanding the number of people affected. We support our partners to address this issue in a comprehensive manner, working on mine clearance along with assistance for people directly affected by ERW and landmines, but also mapping the risk in collaboration with communities and raising awareness on mine risks.’
