World

Project Masam: Saving lives in Yemen, one landmine at a time

The ongoing civil war in Yemen and its concomitant humanitarian crisis have pushed millions into an existence of untold miseries and endless despondence. While thousands of Yemenis have been killed in the eight-year strife, the danger of landmines continues to pose a serious threat to life and livelihood in the country, with these deadly traps claiming hundreds of lives every year.

Landmines and other explosive devices killed or injured one child every two days in Yemen last year – the highest rate in the past five years – according to a humanitarian organization called Save the Children.

To ensure stronger security measures and provide for stability and rehabilitation of the Yemeni people, Saudi Arabia has launched a landmine clearance initiative called Project Masam, in partnership with the Yemeni government.

“Our main goal is to safely remove landmines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and unexploded ordnance to ensure Yemenis can live safely again and are able to restart the local economy and rebuild their country,” Program Manager for Project Masam Ousama Algosaibi told Al Arabiya English.

A picture taken on August 9, 2018 during a trip in Yemen organised by the UAE's National Media Council (NMC) shows Yemeni children whose legs were amputated after they were injured by landmines. (AFP)

The project has destroyed 413,743 explosive devices in Yemen since its launch in mid-2018 and continues to dismantle hundreds of landmines every month, with the estimated number of explosive devices and landmines in the region between one to two million, according to Algosaibi.

Working for a mine-free Yemen

Hundreds of children are either killed or maimed every year due to landmines planted by the Iran-backed Houthi militia across Yemen in residential areas, farmland, water sources, schools and even medical centers.

“Imagine your child getting ready for school. They say they will see you later as they walk out of the door; and the next thing you hear is a loud explosion that makes the walls of your house tremble. Your child has either been killed or maimed, walking on the same road that he or she takes to school every day,” Algosaibi said, describing the dreadful situation in the country.

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Project Masam’s main initiative is to create a “life without landmines” for the Yemeni people, he said.

The project aims to save limbs and lives and provide people in the war-torn country with shelter, safe access to schools, places of worship and emergency healthcare.

Ahmed Omar (R), who lost his son in a landmine explosion is pictured in his home with his family, in Yemen's war-ravaged western province of Hodeida, on June 14, 2022. (AFP)

“Only in a safe and mine-free Yemen, can development and redevelopment happen,” Algosaibi said.

Other than demining, the Masam team also leads Mine Risk Education sessions for civilians by collaborating with the National Mine Action Program (YEMAC) to educate villagers, farmers, school children and elders about the risk of foreign objects and what to do when encountering a suspected landmine.

Demining process and the risk to life

The Masam demining teams follow a strict process whereby, they set up operations in suspected minefields and each individual deminer carefully combs the area.

Once the deminer identifies an explosive device or landmine, it is defused using specialized equipment, Algosaibi explained. The mine is then moved to a demolition site for destruction. At times, when the threat of the explosive device is too high, it is disposed of at the site itself by remotely incinerating it and burning away its explosive contents.

Even though utmost care is taken by the team during demining operations, many Masam team members have still suffered casualties while at work. So far, 30 team members have died and 47 have been injured, according to Algosiabi.

“Our deminers are trained to international standards and are overseen by some of the most talented individuals in our field of work. Yet, unfortunately, demining is one of the most dangerous professions in the world,” he said.

A demining specialist from pro-government forces clears landmines reportedly planted by Huthi rebel forces, from an area on the outskirts of Bayhan town in Yemen's northern Shabwa governorate, on January 19, 2022. (AFP)

The team usually works in harsh conditions, under extreme heat and dust and in difficult terrains such as rocky mountains.

Menace of replanted landmines

Some areas that were previously cleared by the Masam team have been replanted, nullifying months of hard work.

According to Algosaibi, areas such as Al Jawf and Shabwah, which were previously cleared, have been mined for the third time.

“We have had to return to these previously cleared areas to carry out new clearance operations,” he said. “In my decades in these operations, I have never encountered as many IEDs anywhere else as found so far in Yemen.”

In spite of repeated and continued demining operations, it is nearly impossible to calculate how many landmines and explosive devices remain in Yemen due to the issue of replanting, he added.

The faltering ceasefire in the country has also contributed to a resurgence of landmine planting in Yemen.

According to data from the Masam team, some areas have been particularly targeted, such as the West Coast in Hoeidah and the border with Saudi Arabia in Al Jawf, Taiz and Marib in north-central Yemen.

“While the type of area may differ, these landmines only have one impact: They target civilians,” Algosaibi added.

Four children killed in mine blast in Houthi-controlled Yemen

At least 19 dead in Yemen during truce, mainly due to mines: UN

World

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

World

At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

World

US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM