Khaled's Cooperation Saves People's Lives from the Risk of Landmines
Helmi Marei
Posted on 15 Dec 2024
The ongoing conflict in Yemen has led to widespread displacement and a severe landmine crisis. The Taiz and Hodeidah governorates, in particular, have been heavily impacted and account for half of all landmine-related casualties nationwide. These regions, which were once heavily contested frontlines, remain heavily contaminated with explosive remnants of war (ERWs) and pose a significant threat to the safety and security of civilians.
Khaled showed DRC’s team where he found the war remnants.
Helmi Marei
Khaled is a 30-year-old man with five children who participated in one of the European Union (EU)-funded Danish Refugee Council’s (DRC) mine risk education sessions. While walking through a field in his village, Khaled noticed a strange object partially buried in the soil. Recalling the warnings he had heard from DRC’s Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) team in the neighboring village, Khaled felt a mix of fear, worry, and a sense of responsibility towards his community.
The livestock that grazes here could be affected, as well as the people and children who use this path
/ Khaled
Helmi Marei
Khaled reported this to DRC and DRC’s Manual Mine Clearance team immediately accompanied him to examine and safely dispose of the item, which turned out to be an artillery shell. After a careful operation, DRC safely removed an artillery shell. Khaled felt a sense of pride for contributing to the safety of his community, realizing that reporting such objects is everyone's duty.
After this incident, the EORE team launched mine risk education sessions at Khaled’s village to raise awareness of the danger of landmines and war remains to increase their knowledge and awareness on dealing with suspicious objects. Khaled attended and contributed to the sessions, as after witnessing the artillery shell he found, Khaled felt that he had a great responsibility to share with the people of his village about the danger of landmines.
With the financial support of the EU, DRC has been conducting mine risk education sessions, reaching diverse community members, including children, women, and men. From June 2021 to November 2024, DRC has delivered life-saving mine risk awareness sessions to 58,878 people, including 14,884 men, 5,314 women, 21,870 boys, and 16,809 girls through 3,211 sessions.
