Houthi Landmine Kills One Child and Amputates Another's Leg in Nihm District, Sana'a Governorate
Houthi Landmine Kills One Child and Amputates Another's Leg in Nihm District, Sana'a Governorate
The Witness Organization for Human Rights condemned the killing of 15-year-old child Adam Ali Al-Qalam and the injury of 13-year-old Ali Ali Jazeelan, who suffered the amputation of one of his legs below the knee, as a result of the explosion of an anti-personnel landmine planted by the Houthi group in Nihm District, northeast of the capital, Sana’a.
In a statement, the organization said that the explosion occurred at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 29, 2026, in the Al-Athibi area near Al-Nu'aymat village in Ayal Ghafeer sub-district of Nihm, while the two children were herding sheep for a monthly wage on behalf of local residents.
The organization explained that Adam Ali Al-Qalam, a resident of Al-Haymah Al-Kharijiyah District, southwest of Sana’a, died instantly after sustaining multiple shrapnel injuries across his body. Meanwhile, Ali Ali Jazeelan was transferred to the European Consultant Hospital in Sana’a, where he continues to receive medical treatment and care.
Witness Organization held the Houthi group fully and directly responsible for the incident, stating that it had planted anti-personnel landmines in civilian areas, grazing routes, farms, and roads used by local residents before taking full control of Nihm District in January 2020.
The organization said the group's responsibility remains ongoing due to its refusal to remove the landmines, hand over minefield maps, and allow national and international demining teams access to contaminated areas, while maintaining strict security control over those locations.
It further noted that the incident is not isolated but forms part of a long series of landmine-related incidents documented in Nihm from 2014 through the end of 2025. These incidents have resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties, including women and children, killed or injured by anti-personnel mines and explosive remnants of war planted by the Houthi group in villages, farms, roads, and grazing paths.
The organization emphasized that large areas of Nihm District remain contaminated with landmines, particularly in Ayal Ghafeer, Al-Hanashat, Ayal Mansour, Ayal Sayyad, Marhaba, Harib Nihm, and Jahm, placing residents, shepherds, farmers, and returning villagers under constant threat.
Witness Organization called for an independent and transparent investigation into this incident and all landmine-related incidents in Nihm. It urged that the Houthi group be compelled to hand over minefield maps, allow demining teams safe access to contaminated areas, and ensure medical treatment, rehabilitation, and compensation for victims and their families.
The organization also called on the United Nations, the Office of the UN Special Envoy, relevant international organizations, the Yemeni government, and the National Commission to Investigate Alleged Human Rights Violations to fulfill their responsibilities in protecting civilians and holding accountable those responsible for planting landmines and perpetuating the ongoing threat they pose.
Witness Organization concluded that continued obstruction of access to contaminated areas and refusal to hand over minefield maps will inevitably lead to more civilian casualties in Nihm.
