The area of "Youssefin": Farmers abandon their land
Al-Youssefin area, located in the Al-Qabaita District of Lahj Governorate, is among the most heavily contaminated areas in Lahj Governorate due to landmines and explosive remnants of war. This mountainous area is home to a population that primarily relies on agriculture and livestock herding for their livelihoods. For nearly seven years, it has been a hotspot for clashes between the Ansar Allah group (Houthis) and the Transitional Council forces, severely affecting the local community. Additionally, the Ansar Allah group (Houthis) has randomly planted landmines on the front lines to fortify its defensive positions.
During the rainy seasons, floodwaters carry mines, explosive devices, and war remnants into valleys and agricultural lands, endangering civilians and exacerbating their suffering. Local residents can no longer work on their agricultural lands, severely limiting their livelihoods and sources of income.
Adnan Abdo (50 years old), one of the residents of the area, says: “ Everyone in the area is now in danger when doing their work in herding livestock, farming, and other daily activities, as a result of the area being contaminated with mines, explosive devices, and unexploded weapons remnants, especially those brought by the floods to our agricultural land and livestock pastures.”
He continued: "There are a number of farmers in the area whose agricultural land was contaminated by mines carried away by the floodwaters, and they were forced to flee and leave the area."
He added: "Among the residents who did not leave the area, they continued to work despite these risks. No party intervened to remove the mines and remnants of the war, as the area is still contaminated with mines.
Among the victims of the mines that floods carried to agricultural lands in that area were the farmer Hamoud Ahmed Mohammed (62 years old) and his wife, Wilayat Mohammed Salem (58 years old).
The incident occurred in early February 2022, when the two victims were plowing their farmland, and during that time, one of the mines that the floods had swept into their farmland exploded. The explosion resulted in the death of the two victims as a result of being hit by shrapnel. The explosion also led to the death of the bull that the two victims were using to plow the land at the moment of the explosion.
It was a tragedy that shook the feelings of the victims' families and the local residents. The people of the area do not know how many mines the floods have swept into their areas and agricultural lands, and have become a permanent threat to them.
Mwatana for Human Rights urges all parties to the conflict to immediately stop planting mines in all their forms and to take urgent steps to clear areas contaminated with mines, including areas where mines have been displaced due to floods, in order to prevent further civilian casualties. Mwatana calls on the international community to establish an international criminal investigation mechanism to ensure accountability for violators, hold them accountable, and provide justice for the victims.
