The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Sunday that landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs) caused 121 civilian casualties in Yemen during the first quarter of 2023.
Based on data from the Yemeni Mine Action Center (YMAC), OCHA’s report revealed that the majority of the casualties were caused by landmines and UXOs on the west coast of Yemen, particularly in the governorates of Hodeidah, Al Jawf, and Marib.
The report said that heavy rainfall in these areas dislodged explosive devices, making them more likely to be triggered by civilians.
The number of civilian casualties from landmines and UXOs decreased from 144 in the fourth quarter of 2022, due to a number of factors, including increased removals of the war remnants, as well as the displacement of civilians from areas that are heavily mined.
The OCHA has called on the international community to provide more funding to support mine clearance efforts in Yemen, stressing that the UN’s efforts to clear landmines and UXOs are essential for millions of Yemenis to return to their home.
It should be mentioned that Yemen has been engulfed in a deadly military conflict since late 2014, forcing millions out of their homes; amid a worsening humanitarian situation.
