A/HRC/42/CRP.1 because of blast injuries who are waiting for prosthesis508 These figures alone show the scale of impact of landmines on civilians in the governorate. The Group of Experts investigated a sample of emblematic incidents of landmine explosions that killed and injured civilians, the details of which are described below. 338. On 15 June 2018, in the early morning, a man was injured due to a landmine explosion near al-Muqar village, in Mawza district.509 While on his way to feed his sheep, he stepped on a landmine. The injury from the explosion led to the amputation of his left foot. The man earned his livelihood from shepherding. Unlike many others from his village, he had decided to stay when the Houthis advanced on the area in the early stages of the conflict. Yemeni armed forces regained control of the area by December 2015, but mines planted by the Houthis remained. 339. In another incident, on 14 September 2017, at 13:00 hrs, a woman and her child were killed in al-Silw district when she stepped on a landmine that had been planted on a road 300 metres from her house. According to witnesses, the woman had received threats over the telephone from a local Houthi leader who reportedly wanted to speak to her about “abnormal movements near her house.” Witnesses reportedly heard the sound of the blast and saw the smoke when the device exploded. The woman had also previously been injured by a Houthi sniper while she was working on her farm. 340. On 7 July 2017, at around 09:00 hrs, two women were maimed when two landmines exploded in al-Shoqb area, Sabir al-Mawadim district, Ta’izz governorate. Popular Committees affiliated with the Houthis and armed groups comprised of army units loyal to former president Saleh had planted landmines on the unpaved road of al Shoqb area, which is a strategic location to reach different villages, to slow the advance of Resistance groups affiliated with the Yemeni armed forces. The landmines became a clear threat to civilians in this area as three were killed and another 11 were injured. 341. On 13 February 2019, two women were injured due to a landmine explosion in the neighbourhood of Dhra’a al-Ghubar, east of the village of al-Shaqab, in the district of Sabir al-Mawadim. At 10:30 hrs that day, a 43 year-old woman who was collecting firewood for cooking stepped on a landmine. The explosion injured the woman and led to the amputation of her right leg. Witnesses helped take her to al-Safwa hospital in Ta’izz city.510 A 25-yearold woman was also injured in her hand and leg by the shrapnel from the same explosion. According to local residents, these two women were not the first landmine victims in the village. Fourteen villagers had already been victims of landmines planted by the Houthis in the areas east of al-Shaqab, on roads and in residential parts, three of whom were killed and 11 injured, including four women who suffered amputations and became permanently disabled. The village of al-Shaqab is situated strategically high up in the mountains in the district, in the south Ta’izz province, and the Houthis have used mines extensively in the area to hamper the advance of the Yemeni armed forces and affiliated groups, which has cut-off the village of 10,000 people511 and turned it into a frontline. There are no signs or maps to point to the locations of the mines. Violations 342. Although customary international humanitarian law does not per se outlaw the use of landmines, it sets restrictions on their use. Accordingly, particular care must be taken by the parties to the conflict to minimize the indiscriminate effects of landmines.512 343. In May 2019, de facto authorities confirmed to the Group of Experts that the Houthis used anti-vehicle mines, but denied the use of anti-personnel mines, referring to their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention ratified by Yemen. 508 509 510 511 512 Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File. ICRC Study on customary IHL, rule 81. 81