RIYADH: Masam, an ongoing Saudi project to clear landmines in Yemen, saw 849 devices planted by the Iran-backed Houthis dismantled in the last week of May. Overseen by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, the project’s special teams destroyed 16 anti-personnel mines, 124 anti-tank mines, 708 unexploded ordnance, and one explosive device. Masam is one of several initiatives undertaken by Saudi Arabia on the orders of King Salman to help the Yemeni people. It clears routes for much-needed humanitarian aid aimed at supporting the country’s citizens. The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale, and Saada. A total of 400,919 mines have been cleared since the start of the project. More than 1.2 million mines have been planted by the Houthis, claiming the lives of hundreds of civilians. The project trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices. Meanwhile, KSrelief delivered 3,000 cartons of dates to the neediest families in Yemens Taiz governorate. The distribution benefited 18,000 individuals.