The Looming Danger to Civilians
Mwatana for Human Rights stated today, coinciding with the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, observed on April 4th each year, that anti-personnel landmines and deceptive devices planted by the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group have killed and continue to kill hundreds of civilians, brutally injuring many more since the onset of armed conflict in Yemen in September 2014.
Mwatana noted that since the outbreak of conflict in Yemen until March 2024, it documented no fewer than 600 mine explosion incidents, including 505 incidents of explosive devices affecting civilians, predominantly women and children, across various governorates.
Radhya Al-Mutawakel, Chairperson of Mwatana for Human Rights, emphasized that the planting of mines and deceptive devices poses a serious threat to the lives and safety of civilians not only presently but also in the future. Such weaponry inflicts indiscriminate and disproportionate harm, obstructing the return of displaced populations to their homes due to the fear of falling victim to these mines.
Al-Mutawakel further emphasized, "The danger of mines does not stop at the direct impact on victims but extends to encompass the restriction and prevention of humanitarian aid access. It also hampers civilian movement, subjecting them to the hardship of navigating through rugged, distant, and secondary roads to avoid mined routes. This has a significant impact on civilians' sources of income, as many grazing areas, firewood collection areas, agricultural fields, and irrigation water sources are contaminated with mines. This situation leaves civilians with the grim choice of either starving to death or being killed by the explosions of these mines and explosive devices scattered everywhere."
A 13-year-old survivor recounted to the activist, "We were playing football in the Rabea Al-Hadhrami area in Hays district of Al Hudaydah governorate. We divided into two teams: the adults played on one field, and the juniors played on a neighboring field. There were over twenty children playing. The ball went out of bounds, and as some children went to retrieve it, we heard a loud explosion. Panic swept over me as I saw dust flying into the air, and I witnessed my friend Saleh Al-Haysi (pseudonym) lying on the ground, his leg severed."
He added, "Everyone dropped to the ground, and I was frozen in shock at what I saw. I watched them being flung into the air, their limbs scattered. We had a bag where we kept balls and player kits, so we gathered the body pieces in it. I returned home with my clothes soaked in blood, terrified, haunted by nightmares throughout the night."
Another survivor, aged 38, recounted to Mwatana, "On Sunday, January 1, 2023, around 2:00 p.m., a landmine exploded in the grazing land of She'b Jabal As-Sad in Al-Ra'idah area, Mukayras district of Al Bayda governorate, while a child was herding sheep with his father, resulting in the immediate death of the child."
He continued, "I was on my farm nearby when I heard the explosion. I rushed there with all the workers and villagers who heard the blast that day. Upon reaching the grazing land, I found the child's father screaming and crying hoarsely, pale-faced, desperately pleading for our help: 'Help us! My son is dead!' He was crawling on the ground, unable to stand. I hurried back to my farm, grabbed my motorcycle with the intention of rescuing them as quickly as possible. I risked entering the grazing land, relying on divine assistance. As I approached them, before I could reach them, another explosive device detonated, and I lost consciousness, only to awaken in the hospital."
The use of anti-personnel mines is prohibited in conflicts under international law due to their significant and indiscriminate threat to civilians, failing to distinguish between civilian and military targets. Yemen is a party to the Ottawa Treaty, enacted in 1997, which prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of antipersonnel mines. The treaty imposes a comprehensive ban on their storage, development, and trafficking.
Following the reduction in military operations since the announcement of the ceasefire in April 2022, some displaced individuals returned to their homes and farms, only to find hidden mines and explosive devices posing a threat to their lives. Several returning victims fell prey to these deadly weapons.
Despite the decrease in military operations, mine planting persists. According to testimony from eyewitnesses interviewed by Mwatana, many areas that were once clear of mines quickly transform into hazardous zones contaminated with explosive devices, endangering both livestock and residents. Identifying safe locations has become challenging.
Landmines are heavily concentrated in areas under the control of the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group and in areas they previously held dominion over. These regions primarily encompass the governorates of Al Bayda, Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Saada, along with certain districts within the governorates of Marib and Taiz. These areas represent the most heavily impacted residential zones where mines are extensively scattered. The Ansar Allah (Houthi) group bears significant responsibility for approximately 96% of mine incidents.
Mwatana urged the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group primarily to immediately cease planting landmines and to surrender maps detailing contaminated areas for their clearance, aiming to prevent further civilian casualties and enable the safe return of residents to their homes and the resumption of their livelihood activities. Additionally, Mwatana called upon the international community to establish a criminal investigative mechanism ensuring accountability for perpetrators, seeking justice for victims, and enhancing peace efforts in Yemen.
