Mine Action
 Landmines
and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) are a problem in Yemen despite several
years of mine action operations.
While mines have been cleared from the most affected communities, they
continue to destroy lives, hinder infrastructure development and block
access to resources, such as water and grazing land. In 2005, 22 casualties
involving men, women and children were reported.
Yemen ratified the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty in 1998 and is committed
to complete elimination of landmines and ERW. Also in 1998, the Government
began the National Mine Action Programme. Yemen completed destruction
of stockpiled anti-personnel landmines in line with Article 7 of the
mine-ban treaty in 2002. It also developed and enforced landmine legislation
in line with the Treaty’s Article 9.
Furthermore, Yemen revised its 2001-2005 National Strategic Mine Action
Plan and extended it in order to end the suffering and casualties caused
by mines by the end of March 2009. From 1 April 2009, the Government
will rely primarily on national human and financial resources to eradicate
any remaining mines and ERW.
As of June 2006, mines were cleared from all highly mine-affected communities
and 194 communities with medium and low incidence. Meanwhile, mine risk
education is provided to vulnerable groups. The national Landmine Impact
Survey fostered an integrated approach to mine action and reduced mine/ERW
incidents by 80 percent.
The Yemen Executive Mine Action Centre (YEMAC), under the National Mine
Action Committee (NMAC), is the coordination and implementation body
that executes a full range of mine action projects. Having increased
its capacity from “Phase I” execution by the UN Office for
Project Services to “Phase II” national execution in October
2003, a recent evaluation by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) indicated
that the Centre is able to deal with remaining mine/ ERW problems.
“Phase III” will begin in 2007, with the programme being
run entirely by national staff without international technical advisors.
Project objectives are aligned with the 2007-2011 UN Development Assistance
Framework, and mine action is included in the Government’s 2006-2010
development plan.
The Yemen Country Portfolio Team’s funding appeal for mine action
projects in 2007 totals US $2,660,360.
Strengthening National Capacity for Mine Action
in Yemen — Phase II
Last Modified on 6/07/2009 11:20 am
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Yemen
