IMPACT
UNMAS provides strategic and technical advice on a range of mine action issues to the senior management of the United Nations Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA), in support of its mandate “… to oversee the governorate-wide ceasefire, redeployment of forces, and mine action operations” as well as to the Middle East Division of the United Nations Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and the Department of Peace Operations.
UNMAS liaises with United Nations Development Programme, which is the lead United Nations entity on mine action in Yemen, and other United Nations agencies in Hudaydah to support improved mine action interventions in the governorate. Through risk awareness sessions for all mission staff and risk analysis for planning purposes, UNMAS enables the Mission to conduct patrols safe from landmine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) related incidents.
ABOUT
Yemen remains severely contaminated by landmines, sea mines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other ERW, which include cluster munitions. Governorates where there has been significant fighting, such as Al Hudaydah, Al Bayda, Al Dhale’, Hajjah, Ma’rib, Sa’ada, Shabwa and Taiz are the most impacted.
Since the withdrawal of the Saudi-led coalition forces from Hudaydah city in November 2021 to the southern districts of the governorate, the Mission has seen an increase in landmine and ERW incidents reported due to the return of previously displaced civilians to the city and surrounding farms.
UNMHA continues to record landmine and ERW incidents every week. Since 12 November, the Mission recorded more than 250 civilian casualties due to landmine and ERW related incidents, almost 40% being women and children. The Mission continues to advocate for international support for mine action in Yemen and supports media outreach projects in Hudaydah to improve awareness of landmine and ERW risks faced by the civilians in the governorate.
FUNDING
UNMAS activities in 2021 were funded through the UNMHA budget.
Data as of October 2022