Mines
Shaalan recalls the moment that changed his life:
“We had fled to nearby areas because of the fighting. We had only just returned to our home in Fadaghmi after the armed groups were driven out. When I tried to open the door, an explosion occurred. I screamed once, and then I lost awareness of everything around me.”
Shaalan regained consciousness several days later in the hospital. He had sustained multiple injuries, particularly to his abdomen and hand. As he gradually became aware of his surroundings, he noticed that the lower part of his body felt strangely lighter. Then he realized the truth: he had lost his left leg.
Despair and fear took hold of him — fear of disappointing his family, of being unable to support them or return to his normal life, and of becoming dependent on them for everyday activities. But with time, he gradually began to adapt to his new reality.
Shaalan began learning to walk with crutches, slowly and painfully. With every step, a small sense of hope began to emerge — the hope that his life could improve and that what he had lost would not mark the end of his journey.
Today, Shaalan attends school. He is a bright and dedicated student who remains committed to his education despite the challenges he faces. However, he struggles with the distance to school and experiences pain on the way due to his injury.
Shaalan says:
“All I wish for is to be able to finish my education.”
Despite his efforts to move forward, Shaalan sometimes still feels that what happened to him was unfair.
“I was not a fighter, and I had no enemies.”
The fear of landmines remains deeply rooted in his memory. What happened did not affect his body alone; its impact extended to his entire family. Shaalan says that none of them will easily forget what happened, and that the fear of another family member being injured in a similar incident will remain with them, leaving a lasting mark long after the incident itself.