Mines
The suffering of communities affected by conflict does not end when the fighting stops. Mines and unexploded ordnance continue to threaten civilian lives and leave consequences that can last for years after the conflict has ended.
Hassan is one of those civilians whose life changed in an instant.
After returning to his area following the end of the conflict, Hassan went out to check the surroundings of his home, unaware that a hidden danger still lay beneath the ground.
Hassan recalls what happened:
“I was walking near my home after the conflict in our area had ended when I suddenly heard a powerful explosion. I do not remember what happened afterward. I regained consciousness days later in the hospital, where doctors told me that I had lost my right leg.”
He continues:
“The physical pain was not the hardest part. What was more difficult was thinking about my new life. I kept wondering how I would continue working and how I would take care of my children and my family. I felt that I had lost my ability to fulfill the role I had always played in supporting my family.”
Before the incident, Hassan worked to support his family. Today, he is no longer able to work as he did before, and crutches have become his primary means of mobility as he continues to adapt to a reality imposed on him by explosive remnants of war.
Hassan’s story reflects the reality faced by many civilians living in conflict-affected areas, where mines and unexploded ordnance continue to threaten lives and cause permanent injuries, even years after the fighting has ended.
The impact of weapon contamination extends far beyond physical injuries. It also affects the psychological, social, and economic well-being of individuals and families. True recovery does not begin simply when a conflict ends; it begins when the dangers that prevent communities from returning to their normal lives are removed.