RIYADH: Masam, a Saudi project to clear landmines in Yemen, in the first week of September dismantled 783 mines planted by the Iran-backed Houthi militia. Overseen by Saudi aid agency KSrelief, the project’s special teams destroyed 687 unexploded ordnance, 84 anti-tank mines, seven anti-personnel mines, and five explosive devices. The devices, planted indiscriminately by the Houthis across Yemen, pose a significant threat to the lives of innocent people, including children, women and the elderly. Masam is one of several initiatives undertaken by Saudi Arabia on the orders of King Salman to help the Yemeni people, clearing routes for humanitarian aid to reach 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 414,526 mines have been cleared since the start of the project in 2018, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The project trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices. In June, the project’s contract was extended for another year at a cost of $33.29 million.