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, I only saw my left leg flying in the air. My right leg was wounded by the fragments of the mine,” Haj Abdullah told Project Masam in his home.
“After months of treatment, gangrene set in and doctors at al-Thawra Hospital decided to amputate it just to see myself lying on the bed without my two legs”.
Speaking about his disability, Haj Abdullah said, “I used to go to the market to do certain works and spend some interesting time. But, the explosion of the mine destroyed my life – turning me into a disabled person sitting all the time in my house. It also affected my hearing and sight. I have become bedridden unable to move or do anything.”
Mournfully, Haj Abdullah said he considers those who plant landmines near civilians’ houses, farms, and roads to be cowards, as he claimed these individuals do not believe in principles or religion. The old man described the planting of landmines as crimes committed against civilians.
Haj Abdullah claimed that Houthi landmines have harmed not only children, women, and youth in Wadi al Mahabah in Al Mudhaffar District, but also every moving living creature.
Haj Abdullah added: “Project Masam is the most wonderful project in Yemen. Their work – removing and destroying landmines – pleases Allah and His messenger. They remove landmines and explosive devices in order to save civilians from being killed or injured.
“They are working to protect thousands of civilian Yemenis from falling victim to landmines. We pray to Allah to protect them in order to return them safely to their families and to reward them the best of rewards for what they are doing to save the Yemeni people.”
