Mines
Twelve-year-old Mateem Ali did not understand the danger of the place he had gone to until he became the victim of a landmine — a weapon that does not distinguish between a child, a woman, or an animal.
Mateem and his family had been displaced from the Deir ez-Zor area to Jarmiz, in the countryside of Al-Shaddadi, in search of safety and a life free from the violence they had fled.
But a landmine planted on a nearby hill known as Jabal Al-Anaz was waiting for him, hidden beneath the ground as he played nearby.
The mines planted by ISIS did not threaten armed forces alone. Their danger extended to civilians and innocent people, claiming lives, causing permanent injuries and disabilities, and taking away the innocence of childhood.
The explosion sent shrapnel into Mateem’s body, face, and leg, leaving injuries that may affect him for the rest of his life. Yet he was only a child, unable to understand why he had to pay such a price.
Mateem recalls that he was herding sheep with a friend. At around ten in the morning, they were preparing to leave when the explosion occurred:
“We were herding the sheep, and suddenly I felt myself being thrown into the air by the force of the explosion. I was still conscious and aware of what was happening around me.”
He continues:
“After the mine exploded and shrapnel spread across my body, I managed to reach the nearby houses with great difficulty, with the help of my friend. The family there bandaged my wounds to stop the bleeding.”
Mateem suffered multiple shrapnel injuries across his body. More than anything, he feared that he would lose his foot and hoped that he would be able to walk on it again.
He struggled to hold back his tears as he recalled his mother’s fear when he arrived home with his clothes covered in blood:
“Everyone at home was terrified. They were all crying.”
During the interview, Mateem shared a message with other children living in areas affected by conflict. He urged them to stay away from suspicious places and never touch objects that could be mines or other explosive remnants of war, so they would not face a fate like his or lose their lives.
What happened to Mateem is part of an ongoing danger facing communities in Al-Shaddadi, where the threat of mines and explosive remnants of war remains hidden beneath the ground and in places people regularly visit. These hazards continue to claim lives, cause injuries, and leave people with permanent disabilities.
RMCO has successfully cleared most of the explosive hazards from the area where Mateem lives. When landmines, improvised explosive devices, and unexploded ordnance are removed, families have a greater chance to work and live safely, while children can grow up free from fear.