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Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) condemns the Houthi militia's widespread use of landmines and explosive devices in Yemen, a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and the 1997 Ottawa Convention.
This practice has caused significant civilian casualties and widespread property destruction.
According to a recent report by the United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA), four civilians were killed and one child injured last November due to landmines planted by the Houthi militia in various areas of Al Hudaydah Governorate. Local reports also indicate that the militia continues to plant landmines in residential, agricultural, and roadway areas in the districts of Al-Jarahi, Al-Durayhimi, At-Tuhayta, and Bayt Al-Faqih, following the forced displacement of residents.
The scale of the Houthi landmine campaign is immense. A UN Security Council Panel of Experts report reveals approximately 120 civilian casualties in Hodeidah alone between June 2023 and May 2024, with children involved in mine-laying operations.
Human rights estimates suggest the Houthis have planted nearly 2.5 million mines across Yemen, making it one of the world's most mine-contaminated countries. A local observatory reports that children account for roughly 70% of casualties, highlighting the devastating long-term impact on future generations.
Urgent Demands for International Action
WJWC holds the Houthi militia fully responsible for the ongoing casualties caused by landmines, emphasizing that this behavior constitutes a war crime that necessitates international accountability. The organization calls on the international community to:
• Exert pressure on the Houthi militia to cease the use of landmines and destroy existing stockpiles.
• Support mine clearance programs in Yemen by providing technical and financial assistance to relevant parties.
• Initiate a transparent and independent international investigation into violations related to landmine planting and hold those responsible accountable.
• Ensure compensation for affected civilians, along with their psychological and social rehabilitation.
WJWC affirms that international silence regarding these crimes amounts to tacit complicity in allowing the continuation of violations that endanger civilian lives and undermine security and peace in Yemen. Immediate action is needed to protect innocent lives and put an end to this ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.
