Landmine everywhere: A stop on the road can be deadly

Walking in the countryside is dangerous

I am from Kobani, a city in Syria on the border with Turkey that was heavily bombed in 2014. I have five children. I used to work as a day labourer, but I am currently unemployed.

Our house was destroyed after being struck by a warplane, so we were displaced to Turkey. In 2019, we decided to return to Syria.

My accident happened on 9 February 2024. I had contacted my cousin to meet him and support him with a job he had at his place. Afterwards, we walked around. We were in my car, driving around the area, but we got tired and decided to stop on the road to rest. I was stretching my legs on the side of the road, and the next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital. I do not remember anything of what happened in between.

I knew that some areas were contaminated with landmines and remnants of bombs, but I had no idea that this area was also contaminated.

The cost of medical care

Not everyone can afford medical care. After my surgery, I had to stay at Raqqa National Hospital for 22 days. The amputation surgery cost me 3,600 dollars. The doctors used to come to clean the wound, and each visit cost me 200 dollars.

My right leg was amputated, but I also have severe pain and injuries in my left leg. I had injuries and shrapnel in several parts of my body, even in my arms. The doctors considered amputating my left leg as well, but I am glad they did not.

I have been attending rehabilitation sessions for six months now. I have to pay for the taxi every time I go to the hospital for physical rehabilitation. It is expensive. Fortunately, my family in Germany sometimes supports me financially. It is also exhausting because it is so far away - it takes 2.5 hours to get there from my home.

Humanity & Inclusion (HI) supported me with transportation costs, but it could not cover everything.

My biggest challenge: to move

The accident changed my entire life. I am unemployed and I have five children, sometimes people help us financially, but every activity is exhausting now.

Nine months after my accident, I began to improve and was able to walk again with a prosthetic. I received physical rehabilitation and a prosthetic limb thanks to HI at Raqqa National Hospital. It has been incredibly helpful.

Without this support, life would be unbearable.