The minefields and explosive networks planted by the Yemeni conflict parties in the countryside and cities of Yemen as a whole claim the lives of hundreds of thousands of the country's innocent civilians - who are not participating in the fighting. Civilians lost their lives - from time to time without guilt, except for their attempt to find a source of livelihood that helps them to cope with the dire reality and adapt to the difficult economic circumstance by plowing the land or traveling through areas that witnessing or have experienced military battles towards other provinces, while using the only path imposed by the war.
Civilians lose their lives, and sometimes their limbs, and in both cases it is a calamity and a loss that time does not force.
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen in 2014, Mwatana Organization for Human Rights has documented more than 300 incidents of mine explosions.
It also documented bombarding caused by explosive objects, according to the briefing given by the organization's president, Radhia Al-Mutawakel, late in January of this year.
In the same context, the Sam "non-governmental" Organization for Rights and Freedoms, in its annual report for the past year 2021, recorded that 117 civilians were killed, and 250 others were injured due to landmines.
Large numbers of civilians are exposed to mine accidents, whether in the countryside or cities that have witnessed military operations between the parties to the conflict. As a result, thousands of them have lost their ability to continue life in its normal form or are unable to move and fulfill their responsibilities towards their families whose living conditions have been exacerbated by the current conflict which negatively worsen their economic, educational, health and security living conditions.
“I went up on my plow to the field near my house, when I was about to finish plowing the farm, I heard a thunderous sound, and for a moment I didn’t feel anything, I opened my eyes, not realizing what had happened to me, I tried to get up from the plowing chair, but I found my feet twisted and bleeding profusely, so that I immediately lost consciousness."
A trap in the farm
Khalil Al Dhaheri (27 years), a father of two girls, lives with the rest of his family in the village of Al-Haqb in the city of Damt, northwest of Al-Dhalea Governorate (southern Yemen). The war between the internationally recognized government and the people of the village and the Ansar Allah group (Houthis) forced them to flee to the nearby village of Maris in the district in mid-November 2018. After seven months of bloody battles, the Houthis took control of a number of villages towards the governorate - the IDPs of the Al-Haqb began to gradually return. In this regard, Al Dhaheri told "Khuyut": "The Houthis told us that the area has been cleared of mines and the village has become safe so we can return in peace and go about our lives Al Dhaheri added, "It never occurred to me that the demining teams did not clear my land, and that a mine would strike me on the eve of my return to resume my work in plowing the land on which I depend and live from its goodness as the only source of income for me and my family."
Al-Dhahiri recounts the details of that evening with a sad father who has become incapable to take care of his children and his family: “I lost my right foot and lost my tractor, which I work on to support my family, in addition to my weight gain due to the lack of movement.” He adds "The options are gone, and all that was available to me before has become impossible as a result of this mine explosion. Thus, four years in my room, I no longer look forward to spring, and I do not have the enthusiasm of a young man in his twenties."
Reports of international and local organizations indicate that Yemen witnessed the largest mine laying operation in the land since the end of World War II.
“I climbed on my plow to the field near my house, when I was about to finish plowing my farm, I heard a thumping sound, and for a moment I didn’t feel anything,” he adds: “I opened my eyes, not realizing what had happened to me. I tried to get up from the plowing chair, but my leg was twisting and bleeding profusely, and I immediately lost consciousness,” Khalil continued, recounting the tragic chapter of his life, full of life and ambition.
Bad Luck
Individual landmines pose a direct threat to the lives of thousands of Yemeni civilians, especially since the battles mostly take place in densely populated areas or those to which the population returns after the control of a party over them. With the end of each stage of the raging war, the number of civilian casualties multiplies and the need for smart and expensive prosthetics expands, while some are forced to travel to Egypt or India as they are not available in the country, while others are forced as a result of financial inability to amputate in non-specialized hospitals and live with a wooden crutch the rest of their life.
In this context, Tawfiq Al-Humaidi, head of SAM Organization for Rights and Freedoms, says: "The laying of individual mines by any party is a serious violation of the laws of war, and that the party that plants individual mines is committing a war crime." It is worth noting that the official statistics issued indicate that the Ansar Allah group (Houthis) is more involved in planting mines. He added: "Since the beginning of the war until today, mine cultivation has been concentrated in the southern and central regions as well as in Taiz and Hodeidah.
Al-Hamidi continues his talk to "Khuyut": "The fields of death are still lurking the Yemenis, especially those in the regions of Central Yemen, where various types of mines have accumulated. On the other hand, the mine-planting race continues in new places without accurate maps for them, and he indicates that the planting of mines is taking place as a revenge operation, with every defeat or retreat, and after the fighting stops, the catastrophic consequences that civilians face alone are beginning to emerge."
Overpriced bills
Al-Dhaheri is one of hundreds of thousands of civilians who are paying the price for the country's raging conflict.
Ali Al Dhaheri, Khalil's younger brother, tells "Khuyut", the details of the incident of the mine explosion while holding his tears: "I was on the roof of the house and I heard a huge explosion nearby. I looked and found thick dust surrounding our field, so I hurried off to the area to find my brother was unconscious and his leg was in pieces, and the place was filled with blood.” Since that day, Ali has been living a tragedy that he would not have lived without the war and its ugliness.
The city’s hospitals were not able to deal with Khalil’s case, which necessitated his transfer to Sana’a, and there his foot was amputated from the middle of the thigh, at high costs which he would not have been able to pay thanks to the contribution of the people of his village who contributed to pay the costs. Later, other symptoms began to appear on Khalil’s leg, which required his transfer for treatment outside Yemen. Once again, his villagers shared the expenses of his travels back to Egypt for treatment.
Khalil lost his leg and his tractor, and no one from his family dared to approach that field after the accident.
In addition, the living conditions of Khalil's family are deteriorating day after day, especially with his inability to carry out any tasks or work that might ensure his livelihood.
Al-Hamidi believes that the effects of the war and its catastrophic repercussions will not appear in its true form until it has stopped completely, especially those related to the practice of agriculture and grazing in mine-planted areas, adding: “Cases were recorded and many civilian casualties were monitored in the areas of Al-Dhabab and Jabal Habashi in Taiz, and most of the mine victims are women herders.” Noting that (SAM) also monitored civilian casualties on public roads in Al-Wazea of Taiz and Al-Hodeidah.
Al-Humaidi continues: "planting mines is a crime that has turned people's lives into hell, and deprived them of returning to a safe life, as mines affected the bodies and psyches of civilians alike."
Possible Solution
Al-Hamidi points to some solutions that may contribute to alleviating the disaster; everyone shall participate in spreading social awareness through media means to educate people on how to deal with mines, networking among all civil society forces, and searching for external support in order to develop a comprehensive plan and strategy to cleanse the country of these explosive objects, many of which still have not been removed or known.
To conclude, it is worth noting that parties to the armed conflict in Yemen use mines as a means to impede the progress of the opponent in populated areas, which is prohibited by international laws and covenants ratified by Yemen; such mines pose a great danger to the lives of children, women and civil society as a whole.
