ADEN, Yemen, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Four children were killed and nine others wounded on Monday when a suspected unexploded ordnance exploded in Yemen's southern Al-Dhalea province, a local official said.
The blast struck north of Hajar village when a group of children gathered near the device, Al-Dhalea Governor Ahmed Qaed Al-Qubba said in a statement, describing the incident as a "tragic humanitarian disaster."
The governor condemned the continued loss of civilian lives to unexploded ordnance left by years of conflict, noting that children remain among the most vulnerable victims of such hazards.
He also urged international humanitarian organizations and demining agencies to intensify efforts to clear explosive remnants of war.
Large swaths of Yemen have been contaminated by mines and unexploded ordnance during the civil war that erupted in late 2014 after Houthi militants seized the capital Sanaa.
The Yemeni government accuses the Houthis of planting over 2 million landmines since the conflict began, which it says poses a significant threat to civilians. ■
