Yemeni explosives expert killed while defusing bomb in Aden

A bomb planted in the southern Yemeni city of Aden killed an explosives expert and severely injured four others as they were trying to defuse it on Thursday.

The bomb was planted near a restaurant in a busy area of Sheikh Othman district in north Aden, said Maj Gen Qiad Halboob, executive director of the Yemen Mines Action Centre.

The Yemeni officer killed was Col Abdullah Sarhan, one of the centre's best demining experts, Maj Gen Halboob said.

Col Sarhan, who was 48, had three daughters and a son, he said.

"He sacrificed himself to save hundreds of lives. The bomb blew up on him because it was a handmade device, assembled in a primitive way."

It was not clear who had planted the bomb, but Aden has witnessed repeated attacks by Al Qaeda and ISIS since Yemen's civil war began in 2014. The southern port city serves as the country's temporary capital after Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized Sanaa in September that year.

The rebels, who held Aden briefly in 2015 before being pushed out by pro-government forces backed by a Saudi-led military coalition, have planted tens of thousands of explosives across the country.

________________

Yemen's hidden threat: mines

Editorial: Devastating impact of mines leaves lasting legacy

________________

Maj Gen Halboob said the Yemeni Mines Action Centre had removed and disposed of 296,000 mines and explosive devices in areas retaken from the rebels since March 2015, when the coalition intervened in the war to support the government.

In the same period, 28 of the centre's explosives experts had been killed on the job and 50 were injured, with most of them losing their lower limbs, he said.

"We have been working since the beginning of the war in many liberated areas in the country. However we don't have any vehicles and we depend on old equipment granted by the UNDP [UN Development Programme]," Maj Gen Halboob said.

He said the most-needed equipment was cars, protective gear and modern systems to detect and defuse mines. Most of the centre's equipment was stolen during the war, while 36 of its vehicles were destroyed in explosions during field work.

"Nowadays the UAE and Saudi Arabia have been launching new projects to remove thousands of mines planted by the Houthi militia in all the provinces they occupied, especially in Hodeidah and Jawf in the north," Maj Gen Halboob said.

These include the five-year Masam project launched by Saudi Arabia's King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre in June, which will work to clear Houthi mines all over Yemen, he said.

_______________

Yemeni army storms key Houthi district in rebel stronghold

_______________

BOSH!'s pantry essentials

Nutritional yeast

This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.

Seeds

"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."

Umami flavours

"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".

Onions and garlic

"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."

Your grain of choice

Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."