The lines on Fatima Qa’eid’s face are a witness to how difficult her life has been. In the midst of the war rocking her area, Fatima walked on a landmine on the road. It badly affected her back and one of her legs was amputated. Today, Fatima spends most of the day on her dilapidated…
In southwestern Yemen, Haj Abdullah left his house on a street leading to the Republican hospital in Taiz, when a Houthi landmine exploded just metres away from the healthcare complex. Following the incident, Haj Abdullah’s body was pierced by shrapnel and his leg had to be amputated. “When the mine first exploded I felt nothing,…
Jabal Habashi District, is the most landmine contaminated area in the Taiz countryside, as large areas of the district have been turned into minefields killing and injuring hundreds of its residents. Too many tragedies have taken place in Jabal Habashi because of landmines, which have been intensively planted near civilian houses, inside their farms, on the…
Landmines planted by the Houthi militia in Yemeni villages and towns are among the biggest threats facing Yemenis’ present and future because they are invisible and camouflaged, and have been randomly planted in large quantities – making Yemen one of the most landmine contaminated countries in the world. Landmines have caused uncountable deaths and injuries…
Young Mubarak and his friend were heading to the market to buy bread when a landmine detonated. The explosion killed his friend on the spot, left Mubarak without a lower leg and shrapnel littering his body. The young man told Project Masam: “I have become unable to practice many of the professions I used to…
A year has passed since 12-year old Mohammed lost his right leg in a mine explosion near his home in Al-Khouah village, Taiz governorate in northern Yemen. However, he has been in pay since. Mohammed told Project Masam: “My life became very difficult after I lost my leg in a mine explosion while I was…
LIke many in Yemen, Mushir Ali’s life changed forever after he encountered a landmine while he was collecting firewood. The family man told Project Masam he is now unable to move without the help of others, but uses all his strength and determination to keep going. The former breadwinner said both his future and that…
Jamila Qasim, a mother of daughters, was out herding sheep when she walked on a landmine. This incident changed her life forever. Her lower limbs were amputated and Jamila now. This is her story, as told to Project Masam. “I went out to herd the sheep. I was walking and stepped on one of the…
Fathia Salah took risks to go in search of firewood to keep her family warm. Over the course of two months, Fathia would provide bundles of firewood until the day Fathia was stopped in her steps. While Fathia was about to lift a bundle of firewood on her back, the ground shook under her feet.…
Stories of pain and tragedy are similar across Yemen. As soon as one wound heals, other wounds open up. Perhaps the deepest and most painful wounds are those afflicting children, which suffer as a result of Houthi remnants of war – including improvised explosive devices (IEDs), landmines and other unexploded ordnance – in various Yemeni…
