Two children killed in landmine blast in Yemen's Al-Jawf‏‏

In a tragic incident on Saturday، two children were killed and three others، including their parents، were injured when their vehicle detonated a landmine in the al-Masloub district of Yemen’s northern province of Al-Jawf، according to an anonymous local official. The family was traveling approximately 143 km northeast of the capital، Sanaa، when the blast occurred.

This occurrence increases the number of deaths in Yemen brought on by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs). According to a recent UN study، these bombs alone caused 121 civilian casualties in the first quarter of 2023، mostly in the governorates of Hodeidah، Al-Jawf، and Marib. The explosive devices were moved by the heavy rains in these areas، increasing the possibility of accidental detonations.

Millions of landmines and unexploded ordnance are present in Yemen، which has been mired in a bloody conflict between its internationally recognised government and the Iran-backed Houthi party since late 2014. The security and lives of civilians are always at risk from these bombs، and the problem is predicted to last for years to come.