Mustafa lives as a child again after severe burns

A household accident with devastating consequences 

Last summer, Mustafa scalded himself with a pot of hot oil that his mother had left to cool on the kitchen counter. He suffered severe burns to his neck, chest, and arms. His injuries were extremely painful and left large scars. His ability to move his upper limbs was severely limited.  
This accident deeply traumatized him. During his recovery, Mustafa withdrew into himself: he refused to eat and spoke very little. He stopped interacting with his friends and family. He was ashamed of his appearance and preferred to be alone. 

Personalized Support 

Because of the pain and the fact that his skin had become as stiff as cardboard, Mustafa could no longer perform daily tasks such as getting dressed or using the restroom.
HI stepped in in September 2025 to help Mustafa regain his mobility. The teams at Al-Jumhouri Hospital implemented relaxation exercises as well as fun activities, such as drawing, focused on improving his arm movements and reducing pain. He also received psychological support to help him overcome his trauma and regain his self-confidence. Mustafa was monitored daily.
His mother also underwent caregiver training to learn how to replicate the rehabilitation exercises at home. This allowed her to be fully involved, perform the exercises at home, and support her son in his recovery.

Regaining his life as a child

Mustafa has made great progress. His arm's mobility has improved, and he is gradually regaining his independence. His anxiety has eased, and he is once again interacting with those around him. He has also learned to accept his appearance. Today, Mustafa feels better and is eager to return to school.

“I want to recover so I can go back to school and see my friends again.”

Supporting Communities in a Fragile Health System 
Al-Jumhouri Hospital and the Aden Rehabilitation Center are supported by an HI project funded by the European Union and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (DDC). This project aims to improve access to surgical care, physical rehabilitation, and psychosocial support for people affected by the conflict in Yemen. In particular, the project provides: prosthetics and mobility aids, physical therapy and rehabilitation sessions, psychosocial support. Since 2021, more than 21,000 people have received prosthetics, rehabilitation sessions, and psychosocial support; more than 70,000 have received protection services; and more than 26,000 have been assisted through mine action activities. For these beneficiaries, these services represent a unique opportunity to regain their independence and dignity after tragic events.