Survivor Who Received Assistance Now Helps Others (Yemen)

In 1999 in Yemen, Mrs. Labibah Abdo Saif was just nine years old when she saw something in the road that looked interesting and picked it up. Her discovery exploded, causing her to lose her right eye and right leg, and to suffer severe facial wounds. She described the experience: “I was walking to school in third grade, and I had no idea that there was something on the road waiting to take away my beauty and my happiness for the rest of my life. I saw an object lying alongside the road. It was a nice color and shape, so I thought that I could use it to carry drinking water or as kitchenware for cooking. I also thought that my mother would be happy if I gave it to her…but suddenly it exploded when I tried to take it.”

The resulting surgeries and care she required were very difficult for her family, who sold all its belongings to pay for her initial treatment. She was extremely depressed, particularly when she saw other children happily playing. However, despite the suffering she endured at such an early age, Mrs. Labibah has grown to demonstrate great courage and compassion. Refusing to give up, she worked hard to recover from her injuries and continue her education. She registered with the Yemen Mine Action Center (YEMAC) and was one of the first Yemeni landmine survivors to receive further treatment abroad. Upon her return, she participated in MLI’s vocational training courses, learned how to use a computer, and began learning English. With these new skills, in 2010 she secured employment with the Yemeni Association of Landmine Survivors (YALS) and the Ministry of Social Affairs, and has been working as a YALS Training Officer since 2012. Now married and the mother of three young children, she enjoys working with fellow survivors to prepare them for a brighter future.

Mrs. Labibah Abdo Saif was honored as “Survivor of the Year” by MLI in October 2016.

Photo courtesy of MLI.