An area of 1.6 million square metres in Yemen has been cleared of mines in 2016, announced the National Mine Action Committee (NMAC).

''Nearly 102,000 mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) were detected last year and 154 emergency missions were carried out in the regions of Aden, Lahaj and Abyan,'' the Yemeni News Agency quoted the Deputy Director of the NMAC, Abdul Qawai Abdullah, as having said.

The UNICEF-backed NMAC registered 566 mine victims in Aden. ''Work is underway to clear Aden of mines,'' he said.

Campaigns to improve awareness of the dangers of unexploded ordnance (UXO) targeted 2.1 million people, including school children, in 2016 within the liberated regions.

''We will launch our 2017 plan next week,'' said the Deputy Director of the NMAC, who added that 16 refresher courses were held for the mine-clearing teams.