UNDP Emergency Mine Action Project - Supporting Mine Clearance in Hodeidah, Taiz and Marib - Priority 2 Yemen has experienced protracted conflict since late 2014 and remains the worst humanitarian and development crisis in the world. Fighting since 2014 has added to the scale and complexity of UXO contamination and left large swathes of the country impacted. The contamination is a result of all types of UXO including cluster munitions, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), landmines, sea mines, abandoned explosive ordnance (AXO). Major roads, bridges and power lines across the country have been severely damaged, and oil and gas production have been totally disrupted. Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) contamination continue to harm civilians and damage their homes and infrastructure. Women and girls are significantly affected by the ongoing conflict and the threat of ERW.

Through this proposal, UNDP Emergency Mine Action Project – Phase II (EMAP2) is seeking to apply for a 600,000 USD grant through the YHF 1st Standard Allocation, under priority 2 to provide emergency lifesaving Mine Action activities (survey and clearance) through its national counterpart YEMAC (Yemen Executive Mine Action Centre). The request comes following the withdrawal of the IRG forces from these areas and the plea from the DFA for more concrete support to mine action activities in these areas. The activities are planned to be implemented in the governorates of Hodeidah, Marib and Taiz in eight targeted districts in DFA areas: Ad Durayhimi, Al Hali, Al Marawi'ah, Bayt Al Faqih, Jabal Habashi, Mahliyah, Maqbanah, and Mawiyah 

These districts have been identified as high priority by the Yemen Executive Mine Action Centre (YEMAC) North and represent a population of 1,7 million with 161 thousand IDPs. With the support of this Allocation UNDP Mine Action Project intends to reach 74,222 direct beneficiaries, including 13,000 IDPs and over 4,000 people with disabilities. And survey or clear 600 thousand square meters of land.

Due to the reduced funding across the humanitarian sector, UNDP Mine Action has decided to priorities further its work by deploying 104 mobile deminers divided into teams across the targeted districts all located on main roads and near DFA/IRG borders.

The planned support will be delivered as: 

 Incentives to YEMAC/YMACC deminers and staff in support of their daily work
 Supplies in support of YEMAC’s operation – fuel, marking tools
 Sensitization training of YEMAC staff and personnel

The overarching principles of the UNDP Mine Action intervention are to assist national institutions to respond to the threats posed by explosive hazards but in the interim to: support aid delivery assist in the restoration of basic services facilitate access to infrastructure reduce injuries and fatalities, providing access for the delivery of humanitarian aid and developing the precursor requirements for post-conflict reconstruction, all of which are a prerequisite to stabilization and the normalization of economic activity in many of the most impacted regions of the country. 

YEMAC’s operations in the targeted Governorates will ensure the areas are rendered safe from mines and ERW through survey, marking and/or clearance. This will also provide safe access to much-needed humanitarian aid, shorten transit times to and from the Governorate for commercial traffic, facilitate better access to medical treatment, and improve food security. The activities supported by this project will also aim at providing life-saving assistance to the population of the affected areas through an effective targeted response in line with the cluster priorities and in support of YHF partners’ interventions by clearing vital infrastructure in these areas. 
UNDP will support YEMAC in its currently sub-optimal response in the Governorates for a period of six and a half months (1 November 2021 through 30 April 2023).