Yemens Landmine Crisis Persists Despite Truce and Demining Efforts

Yemen Landmine Casualties Persist Despite Ceasefire Efforts

A recent incident in central Yemen’s Taiz governorate highlights the ongoing threat posed by landmines to civilians. In August 2023, 13-year-old Enaya Dastor was following her goats near her village when a landmine detonated beneath her, resulting in the amputation of her left leg.

The incident occurred more than a year after fighting between Yemen’s government and Houthi forces largely ceased following a ceasefire in April 2022. However, landmines left behind on former battlefields and front lines continue to kill and injure Yemenis.

According to Save the Children, at least 339 children have been killed and 843 injured by landmines since the 2022 truce. The organization reports that nearly half of child casualties related to the conflict were due to landmines and explosive remnants of war.

The parties to Yemen’s conflict planted thousands of mines during the civil war, which began in 2014. Landmine incidents have been reported in various provinces, including Taiz, where five children were killed while playing football on a dirt field in 2025.

Other victims, such as Mohammed Mustafa, who lost his left leg in a landmine explosion in 2018 at the age of 20, continue to suffer from the effects of these hidden dangers. Mustafa’s experience highlights the need for caution and awareness when navigating areas where landmines may be present.

Save the Children has documented numerous cases of civilians, including children and women, killed or injured by mines between April 2014 and March 2022. The organization emphasizes the importance of de-mining initiatives and increased awareness to mitigate the risks posed by these hidden threats.

Source: Al Jazeera