This website displays an informational booklet on the Yemen Executive Mine Action Center. The full text of each page is available on this website. If you wish to view it as a slideshow, follow the link to and watch the show on full screen mode.

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What is YEMAC?

The Yemen Executive Mine Action Center (YEMAC) is working to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines and ERW in all mine-affected areas of Yemen by 2012. 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. Our goal is to create a nation where people and communities can live and work in a safe environment, free from the threat of landmines and ERW, and where survivors of mine and ERW accidents are successfully supported and reintegrated into their communities.

The majority of landmines and ERW in Yemen were laid during various internal conflicts which plagued the country between the years 1962-1969, 1970-1983 and 1994. Combatants laid mines in dunes and fields and along roads without marking locations.

Human suffering and economic loss due to mines and ERW are significant. Over the past 10 years, there have been 4,904 reported victims (2,560 fatalities, 2,344 injuries). The landmine and ERW problem hinders infrastructure development (roads, schools, housing) and denies access to economic opportunities, grazing land and water sources. Mines have reduced the already limited arable areas (only 2.6 percent of the country) and prevent Government-sponsored social development projects. Accidents kill or disable farmers, herders (often children) and livestock essential for basic economic activities.

Yemen’s mine action program began on 1 October 2003. Since then, the Yemen Executive Mine Action Centre has developed a solid legal and structural capacity for managing, planning and coordinating the program. Originally established as a joint Yemeni UNDP effort, YEMAC has now evolved to be a full partner of the UN. Since 2007, UNDP has played a critical, but ad hoc, role in the areas of fundraising, procurement, financial management and technical assistance. In the future, UNDP will cease to supply international technical advisors to the program, but will continue to help Yemen meet its obligation under the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty by 2009.

Mansour Al Azi

YEMAC General Director