RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief has extended by one year its contract for the Masam Project to clear mines in Yemen.

Saudi personnel and international experts are implementing the project and working with Yemeni teams trained to remove all types of mines planted in the country.

The work aims to eliminate the threat of mines and protect the lives of innocent people from the dangers they pose. In addition, the project also focuses on training and capacity-building activities for Yemenis in land mine clearance.

Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, adviser at the Royal Court and supervisor general at KSrelief, said: “The renewal of this contract with the implementing partner reflects the center’s sense of humanitarian responsibility toward our brothers in Yemen, given the critical importance of this unique project in completing the clearance of Yemeni territory from mines that were planted in an unprecedentedly indiscriminate manner.

“These mines, deployed in various forms and camouflaged in locations targeting unarmed civilians, have caused permanent injuries, lifelong disabilities and numerous casualties among women, children and the elderly, and other acts that pose a threat to security and life.”

He noted that the project has removed 495,855 mines and various shells to date.