Five-year old Ali and nine year old Safa’a are from Bani
Jarmouz, near the capital, which has witnessed months of clashes between armed
tribesmen and the military. Due to these
clashes, Ali and Safa’s family fled their home in May 2011. Late February of this year, they returned home believing
that everything was ok.
Last week, the siblings were playing outside, and suddenly their mother heard an explosion. She went
out to look, and could not believe what she saw.
She immediately fainted. The
people in the neighborhood jumped to the scene, some carrying the wounded
bodies of the two children, and others carried the mother inside the house.
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| Safa'a Mohammed Luqman, 9 years old |
When Safa’a and Ali were playing, their small feet touched either a shell that had not previously exploded or a mine. The mother did not know what it was, and said no experts have gone to the area to check.
The children are now in a hospital in Sana’a because
no such facilities exist in their area. When I asked Safa’a what do you wish for, tears rolled down
her face and all she could say was “everything hurts.” I could not ask Ali the same question because
he was still in a coma.
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| Ali Mohammed Luqman, 5 years old |
Long after the perceived silence, innocent people continue to suffer the consequences of
armed clashes. There are many more mines and shells waiting to explode. In addition to removing barricades and tanks
from streets, the military committee must also focus on serious concerns of
shells and mines hidden in various places throughout the country. It is the responsibility of all sides to remove these mines and shells from civilian areas.
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