Yemen: Heavy Marib Rains Sweep Away and Expose Houthi Mines

Arab Sea Newspaper - Follow-ups

Arabian Sea - Yemen - Follow-ups: The torrential floods that Marib Governorate recently witnessed have revealed a new danger threatening the lives of civilians, as rainwater swept away large numbers of mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the Houthi group in the Mala'a Valley in the Harib District. According to local residents' testimonies, the mines and IEDs spread due to the force of the floods in the neighboring areas, which increased their direct threat to the residents of villages and farms. These practices are a flagrant violation of humanitarian laws, as the group deliberately planted these explosives in flood channels in order to obstruct the movement of civilians. Local authorities and engineering teams in Marib continue their intensive efforts to remove and dismantle these mines and IEDs. In light of these dangers, urgent calls are being made to citizens to exercise extreme caution and stay away from flood channels and suspected areas until the area is completely secured. Experts confirm that these practices exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. With each rainy season, the possibility of mines being swept away increases, making areas that seem safe vulnerable to danger and threatening the lives of residents even after the battles end.