Landmines Threaten Camel Herders in Yemen’s Marib Province

Camel herders in Yemen’s Marib province face severe dangers from landmines as they attempt to reclaim their nomadic lifestyle amid ongoing conflict, Reuters reported. Displaced by war since 2015, these Bedouins struggle to find safe grazing land, often encountering minefields that threaten their livestock.

A report by the local human rights organization Mwatana documented 537 incidents of landmine use from January 2016 to March 2024. The United Nations Development Programme has warned that landmines and explosive remnants of war pose serious risks to millions of people across Yemen.

Marib, in central Yemen, is one of the provinces most impacted by landmines, forcing herders to confine their camels and remain in their tents. The ongoing conflict between Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis and a Saudi-led military alliance complicates efforts to ensure safe grazing areas, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.