Marib, Yemen: A landmine warning sign in Yemen’s Marib province stands as a grim reminder to camel herders that each step could be their last.
For the Bedouins, who have long relied on their nomadic way of life, the ongoing war has forced them into displacement or confinement in smaller areas. Now, as they attempt to reclaim their traditional grazing routes, the presence of landmines makes the journey perilous.
“Grazing was more abundant further south, but those areas are infested with landmines. Whenever one of the animals heads south, a mine explodes under it,” said Ogaim Suhail, a camel herder. To avoid the deadly minefields and combat zones, many nomads have moved north, limiting their grazing lands.
Yemen has been mired in conflict since 2015, with Iran-aligned Houthi forces battling a Saudi-led military coalition. A United Nations-led peace process has seen little progress, especially after the escalation of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza in 2023.
Although major battlefield shifts have been absent in recent years, the United Nations has warned of the potential for renewed hostilities. Meanwhile, landmines planted by warring factions continue to kill or maim civilians, even in regions where active fighting has ceased. A 2024 Human Rights Watch report highlights the ongoing risk these explosives pose.
“Landmines are our first problem in war areas, near the Houthis,” said Saleh al-Qadry, another herder who has witnessed the dangers firsthand.
According to a report from the local human rights group Mwatana, 537 incidents of landmine use were recorded between January 2016 and March 2024. The Houthis, however, deny responsibility for planting mines in Marib province.
“The mines were placed by mercenaries to slow a Houthi advance,” said Abed al-Thawr, an official at the Houthi Defence Ministry, using the term Houthis often employ for their opponents. He told Reuters that the group was not responsible for mine-laying in the area.
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The United Nations Development Programme has warned that landmines and other unexploded ordnance pose a persistent and severe threat to millions across Yemen. Marib remains one of the most heavily affected regions, with many herders feeling trapped by the risk of stepping on hidden explosives.
“If we release them, they may head towards the landmines and step on them, causing them to explode,” said camel herder Saeed Onaig, describing how his livelihood is at constant risk.
As long as landmines litter the terrain, the dangers for herders and their animals will persist, complicating their ability to maintain their traditional way of life.
