This is Farah. Though her name means joy, landmines have left her no joy, but just a name. She recognised the pains of oppression and injustice at the age of ten. These pains have grown up with her to this very moment.
At the age of eight, Farah knew that there was a coup in her country, and that her and her family had to leave their village and flee. She did not know it was called displacement. She used to view it as a picnic outside the village for some time and then the family would return soon. Thus, Farah felt curious and delighted at the time.
Two years later, at the age of ten, she stepped on a mine in her village. She lost consciousness and only opening her eyes after surgery, having lost her legs.
Farah said her condition tore away her childhood and her dreams. She could not believe what happened to her.
She told Project Masam: “I broke whatever my hands could reach and wanted to die. I had nothing left. I could no longer walk, play and study. I would just scream. I tore my school notes and textbooks, and smashed the school chairs, hoping they would suspend me. I was eager for nothing. I lost everything”.
Farah’s rejection of her new physical condition continued. But, gradually, thanks to the support she received from her father, brother and teachers, she started to feel she was getting back to normal.
However, both her father and brother died. Farah aid she lost those who helped her through the pain.
“My father meant the whole world to me and he was the light of my life. My brother was my support. I lost them forever and I became helpless.
“I was a child, knowing nothing. I had no idea what a landmine was. What is my fault, along with other Yemeni children? We were deprived of that normal life for no reason at all; no fault of ours”.
Now, Farah is going on with her life, but her mind is filled with worries for her country and village. She is pinning her hopes on Project Masam’s humanitarian landmine clearance team to rescue her landmine-contaminated village.
