RIYADH: Project Masam, a Saudi initiative to clear land mines in Yemen, in the third week of January dismantled 1,010 mines planted by the Iran-backed Houthi militia. Overseen by the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, the project’s special teams destroyed 890 pieces of unexploded ordnance, 117 anti-tank mines, two anti-personnel mines, and one improvised explosive device. The explosives, which were planted indiscriminately by the Houthis across Yemen, posed a significant threat to the lives of innocent people, including children, women, and the elderly. Project Masam is one of several initiatives undertaken by Saudi Arabia to help the Yemeni people by 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 429,590 mines have been cleared since the start of the initiative in 2018. The project trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.