Landmines Imperil Camel Herders in Yemen

Landmines Endanger Camel Herders in Yemen's Marib Province

MARIB, Yemen (Reuters) - A landmine warning sign in Yemen's Marib province reminds camel herders that their next step could be their last.

After being displaced or confined to smaller areas because of war, the Bedouins hope to reclaim their traditional nomadic way of life. But finding safe land to graze is perilous.

"Grazing was more abundant further south, but those areas are infested with landmines. Whenever one of the animals heads south, a mine explodes under it," said Ogaim Suhail, a camel herder. Nomads have moved north to escape minefields and combat zones, he said.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have been at war against a Saudi-led military alliance since 2015. A United Nations peace process has stalled since the Israel-Hamas war began in Gaza in 2023.

Though there has been no major escalation or changes in the disposition of frontlines for years, the United Nations warns against the possibility of renewed violence.

Meanwhile, landmines laid by the warring parties continue to kill or injure civilians in areas where fighting has ceased, according to a 2024 report by Human Rights Watch.

"Landmines are our first problem in war areas, near the Houthis," said herder Saleh al-Qadry.

A report by the local human rights organization Mwatana documented 537 incidents of landmine use from January 2016 to March 2024.

Abed al-Thawr, an official at the Houthi Defence Ministry, told Reuters the Houthis were not responsible for planting mines in Marib province, which he said had been placed there by mercenaries.

The United Nations Development Programme has reported that landmines and explosive remnants of war pose a serious risk to millions of people across Yemen.

Marib, in central Yemen, is one of the provinces most affected, with herders saying they are forced to stay in their tents for fear of landmines, and to keep their camels confined.

"If we release them, they may head towards the landmines and step on them, causing them to explode," said camel herder Saeed Onaig.

(Writing by Clauda Tanios; Editing by Michael Georgy and Peter Graff)