Ahmed Seif Mahyoub left his house to visit his parents in the village of Ekad, in Jabal Habashi District in Yemen’s Taiz Governorate, when he walked on a landmine.
Ahmed’s legs were torn apart.
In an interview with Project Masam, Ahmed said, “I was going to visit my family whom I hadn’t seen for a long time. While walking on a mountain road a mine exploded, I did not feel any pain then. All I remember is the smoke rising before me and the blood running from my legs. Then people hurried to me and I was taken to the hospital for treatment.”
Ahmed continued, “I have a family to sustain. My children look me in the face waiting for a lot of things from me. But, the landmine took everything: my legs and my children’s sustenance. I used to work in the construction industry, doing carpentry, and blacksmithing to sustain my family. Now I have become unable to do anything since all jobs require a man with both legs. Now that I both my legs were amputated, I am unable to work”.
Discussing the presence of landmines in Jabal Habashi, Ahmed said that the explosive items have caused the death of many – mainly women and children – and the destruction of civilians’ properties, including water reservoirs and farmlands.
Ahmed added, “Mine planting is a crime against humanity as it targets the innocent civilians since there is no real reason for planting them inside civilians’ houses, farms, and sources of livelihood other than targeting the civilians and displacing them from their villages.”
Commenting on the role played by Project Masam in Yemen, the father said deminers do their best to guarantee the safety of every civilian as well as bringing normalcy to life.
Ahmed said he wishes that the project would continue until every landmine in Yemen is removed.
