Summary
Landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) remain a significant problem in Yemen despite 10 years of effective mine action operations. Though all highly and moderately impacted communities located by the 2000 Landmine Impact Survey (LIS) have been cleared, landmines and ERW continue to destroy lives, hinder infrastructure, and block access to critical resources, including water and grazing land. In 2008 alone, mines and ERW caused nine casualties in seven different accidents involving men, women and children. In 2009 through July, there were five accidents with seven casualties. There were 8,292, 26,410 and 36,595 unexploded ordnance (UXO) discovered during 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. New mines are continuously located.
The LIS identified 1,078 mined areas encompassing 922,726,881 square metres. In 2002, 7 additional mined areas totaling 100,400 square metres were identified. In 2006, 3 more areas covering 505,000 square metres were identified. The total comprises 1,088 areas with 923,332,281 square metres.
By January 2009, 739 mined areas covering 746,805,240 square metres had been released, with 89,044 anti-personnel mines destroyed. Another 349 mined areas totaling 176,473,829 square metres need to be addressed by technical surveys; 11,939,871 square metres require mine clearance.
The magnitude of the problem convinced the 9th Member States Parties meeting on the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty to approve Yemen's request for an extension period of up to 1 March 2015 to complete Article 5 obligations.
Yemen is committed to the complete elimination of mines and ERW. In 1998, it ratified the mine-ban treaty and started its mine action programme. Yemen completed destruction of its national stockpile of anti-personnel landmines in compliance with Article 7 of the treaty in April 2002. It also has developed and enforced legislation in accordance with Article 9. To further comply with the treaty, Yemen revised its strategic plans and approved the 2009-2014 National Strategic Mine Action Plan. The plan affirms the national vision of putting an end to the suffering and casualties caused by mines by 1 March 2015.
Each year, UN entities, nongovernmental organizations, national and local authorities and donors collaborate to assemble a national portfolio of mine action project proposals that together reflect the strategic response developed in the field to all aspects of the problem of landmines and explosive remnants of war. A Country Portfolio Coordinator, usually a representative of a UN agency or a national authority, coordinates meetings where all mine action actors agree on a set of projects and priorities and determine funding needs. The proposals in each country's portfolio are assembled with those of other participating countries and published jointly by the UN Mine Action Service, the UN Development Programme and UNICEF in an annual "Portfolio of Mine Action Projects." This publication serves as a tool for collaborative resource mobilization, coordination and planning of mine action activities. The Yemen Country Portfolio Team's funding appeal for mine action projects in 2007 totals US $2,851,550.
Scope of the Problem
During the past 30 years, from the revolution to the period of civil confrontation in 1994, Yemen has witnessed a number of conflicts, each leaving behind a significant contribution to the mine and UXO problem. In 2000, the LIS provided vital data and information about the impacts on the Yemeni people. In 2002 and 2006, 10 additional mined areas in 2 communities with a total size of 605,400 square metres were identified. In total, 1,088 areas with 923,332,281 square metres have been of concern.
Human suffering and economic losses due to landmines and UXO are believed to be significant. Although the total number of mine and UXO casualties is not precisely known, the LIS recorded 4,904 victims, of whom 2,560 were killed and 2,344 injured. The most frequent victims were farmers and herders. A large number of casualties are believed to be women and children.
The loss of agricultural lands, irrigation sources and grazing areas add up to significant economic losses on both the national and local levels, as only 2.6 percent of Yemen's territory is arable. Economic pressure may force some local communities to enter mined areas, risking their lives in order to gain some land for agriculture or for tending domestic animals.
The Government is committed to eliminating the impacts of mines and UXO. Since the problem cannot be solved unless an integrated mine action initiative is launched, the National Mine Action Committee (NMAC) was established in June 1998 to provide policy support and act as a steering body for mine action activities. The Yemen Executive Mine Action Center (YEMAC) was set up in 1999 as a national mine action implementing body. The Government has seconded 1,016 military personnel as deminers and other operational staff in support of mine action activities nationwide. This commitment has been a key element in establishing and fostering cooperation with donor countries.
Coordination and Consultation
The NMAC includes members from 10 different ministries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It is the highest body responsible for policy formation, resource allocation and the national mine action strategy. YEMAC is the national mine action coordination and implementation body. It implements mine action projects, including mine risk education, surveys, clearance and victim assistance. Since the inception of the mine action programme, the Government has spent over US $3 million annually to support it.
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) aids the Government in dealing with humanitarian and development problems associated with mines and UXO. It helps strengthen national capacities for planning, coordination and implementation of mine action, and supports capacity improvements through training.
There are some NGOs involved in mine action, usually in coordination with YEMAC. The Yemen Association for Landmine Survivors (YALS) assists and reintegrates landmine survivors. The Yemen Mine Awareness Association (YMAA) conducts mine risk education in the governorate of Lahej.
A number of parties are also providing bilateral support. Since 1999, the Government of the United States has provided in-kind contributions of equipment and vehicles. The Government of Germany has developed a mine detection dog capacity and backed mine dog clearance operations since 2001. The governments of Japan and Sweden have aided mine risk education and victim assistance. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has contributed US $4 million to the NMAC.
Other generous support has come from the governments of Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Strategy
Yemen aims to put an end to the suffering and causalities caused by anti-personnel mines and ERW in all mine-affected areas. It strives to create and develop a nation where people and communities can live and work in a safe environment that is free from the threat of landmines and ERW, and where mine and ERW survivors are successfully supported and reintegrated. This requires clearing all mine-affected areas that threaten communities.
Experience indicates that most minefields are small in size due to the terrain, mainly hillsides and gullies, in the centre of Yemen. Full 54-member clearance units cannot be deployed simultaneously. Smaller teams are more effective and suitable. YEMAC has accordingly restructured its clearance units into independent platoons by providing additional equipment and medical support. This allows the platoons to operate independently of one another, and to use one-man, one-lane drills. Mechanical equipment to assist clearance of sands and dunes will continue to improve productivity and safety, towards Yemen's goal of fulfilling its obligations under the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty by March 2015.
YEMAC's increased capacity enabled it to move from Phase I execution by the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to Phase II national execution in October 2003. The recent outcome evaluation of UNDP indicated that the programme has the necessary capacity in place to deal with the remaining landmine and ERW problem. The objectives of the current Phase III project, which started in late 2007, are in line with the priorities of the 2007-2011 UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). Mine action has been included in the Government’s third five-year development plan for 2006 to 2010.
UNDP/YEMAC joint preparations will soon commence for the formulation of Phase IV of the programme, covering the period from July 2010 to December 2014.
UNDP's Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery plays an important role in supporting YEMAC and securing funding through the Thematic Trust Fund modality. It is expected that UNDP will continue these significant efforts during Phase IV.
Date Anti-Personnel Mine-Ban Treaty signed: Dec 04, 1997
Date of Anti-Personnel Mine-Ban Treaty ratification or accession: Sep 01, 1998
Consents to be bound by Protocol II of Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons: N/A
Consents to be bound by Amended Protocol II of Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons: N/A
Date signed Protocol V of Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons: N/A