KSrelief's Global Initiatives To Clear Landmines And Protect Civilians From Explosives

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) in Saudi Arabia has been actively addressing global humanitarian challenges. Their efforts focus on crises, conflicts, and natural disasters worldwide. The Kingdom aims to foster stability and prosperity by supporting regional and international mine clearance initiatives. These efforts aim to mitigate the social and economic impacts of landmines, ensuring civilian safety and a more secure environment.

In Yemen, KSrelief launched the Masam Landmine Clearance Project in mid-2018. This initiative addresses the severe security threat posed by landmines. Saudi personnel and international experts lead the project, with 550 employees and 32 trained teams working to remove various mines across different regions. The project aims to counter threats to Yemeni lives, enhance security, and address humanitarian issues caused by buried explosives.

Since its inception, the Masam project has removed 486,108 landmines, unexploded ordnance, and munitions. It has cleared 65,888,674 cubic meters of land. Additionally, KSrelief has implemented a prosthetics program in Yemen that has benefited 25,340 individuals. This program provides high-quality prosthetic limbs and trains local staff in manufacturing techniques to ensure service sustainability.

The prosthetics initiative aims to restore hope for mine victims by rehabilitating them into productive individuals capable of leading normal lives. The total value of these projects in Yemen is $39,497,000. Beyond mine clearance, KSrelief offers health and social assistance to victims and those affected by landmines.

KSrelief's demining efforts extend beyond Yemen to other countries like Azerbaijan and Iraq. In January 2024, financial grants were initiated for Azerbaijani landmine clearance to support reconstruction efforts and facilitate displaced persons' return home. The goal is to improve environments, protect civilians—especially women and children—and build local capacities for safe living conditions.

In April 2024, KSrelief funded projects in Iraq for cluster munitions and landmine clearance across several governorates. These efforts aim to create a safe environment for Iraqi citizens' stability and security while improving livelihoods through resumed farming activities. This support also enhances the Iraqi economy.

Challenges Faced by Demining Workers

The demining work involves significant risks; approximately 30 individuals have lost their lives during operations due to explosions from landmines or ordnance since the project's start. Despite these dangers, KSrelief remains committed to combating the spread of landmines globally.

KSrelief commemorates International Day for Mine Awareness on April 4th each year. This day raises awareness about landmine dangers while calling for increased efforts against them. It focuses on protecting lives from threats while building capacities for workers in affected countries.

The Kingdom's commitment through KSrelief highlights its dedication to creating safer environments worldwide by addressing humanitarian needs effectively.

With inputs from SPA