Landmines spare no one, and this was tragically evident in the story of Tariq Abdullah Al-Awadi, a paramedic with the Masam Landmine Clearance project -Yemen.
The humanitarian landmine clearance project currently has 42 medics deployed in Yemen: 32 national manual mine clearance (MMC) team medics, two national doctors — medical co-ordinators headquartered in Marib and in the de-facto capital Aden — and four international medics, who are assisted by three fully-qualified national medics operating in Project Masam’s clinics and in the field.
No humanitarian demining team tasked to travel and work on high-risk demining sites and in remote locations can do so without the essential presence of a dedicated national trauma trained medic.
A brave medical professional, he transitioned from being a rescuer to a victim when a landmine exploded under his car as he accompanied the Survey Team 30 securing a minefield in the Al-Rayyan area of Al-Jawf Governorate in northern Yemen on 26 October 2020.
Al-Awadi shares his story in a composed manner, differing from typical accounts of landmine victims.
Speaking calmly, he looks like he is refraining from displaying sadness or pain, treating the incident as an unfortunate accident.
As he talks about losing his leg, his voice remains steady; he frames his experience with poignant realism, suggesting that “losing a limb is part of the risk I accepted — it’s the price of mine action”.
Al-Awadi views his injury not as an ending, but as a natural consequence of his vital humanitarian mission. Like his fellow heroes in Project Masam, he understands that those working in this field risk their lives, and are at risk of suffering physical loss.
His profound commitment to duty fuels Al-Awadi’s determination to overcome his new disability and embrace his new life without hesitation. Driven by a strong sense of responsibility, he remains focused on protecting others from the dangers of landmines.
The thirtysomething’s story transcends mere injury; it embodies an inspiring message of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering will — one that is so often encountered throughout Yemen.
Al-Awadi is a hero who defied disability and refused to surrender, demonstrating that a resilient spirit cannot be shattered by wounds.
Reflecting on his injury, Tariq shares, “After the explosion, I didn’t think about myself for a moment. My focus was solely on how to save my colleagues and administer first aid. Thankfully, none of them were harmed.”
“Moments later, I felt intense pain in my lower limbs and realised that one of my feet was severely injured and bleeding profusely. Despite the pain, I didn’t lose consciousness. I asked my colleagues to fetch a first aid kit, managed the bleeding, and guided them on how to administer the necessary injections,” he added.
The paramedic was subsequently taken to Kara Hospital in Marib, where doctors decided that amputating his leg was essential to save his life.
He continues: “Before I joined the Masam Landmine Clearance project — Yemen, I worked as an assistant physician in several hospitals, where I witnessed the suffering of mine victims, particularly women and children.
“As the number of casualties continued to rise across various governorates, I decided to become a paramedic with Project Masam, accompanying demining teams. My aim was to help save lives and eliminate this threat to civilians — it resonated with the humanitarian goal for which Project Masam was established.”
“Although the threat of mines for doctors and paramedics accompanying demining teams is not as significant as for the deminers who work directly with them, fate made me a victim while the team survived,” Tariq reflected.
“If given the chance to return to Project Masam, I would do so with even greater energy and morale, as I’ve come to understand the suffering of mine victims more deeply”.
The paramedic delivered a message to his colleagues in Project Masam’s united medical team: “You are engaged in a vital humanitarian mission, so it is essential to adhere strictly to safety standards.
“Never compromise on these guidelines, as they enable you to perform your duties effectively and protect your colleagues in the engineering team.”
Article first published by Medium.
