Omar is walking again after being injured by a landmine

Stepping on a landmine  

Omar is from Lawdar, in southern Yemen. In 2015, he set out on foot from his hometown to go to Aden. Along the way, he stepped on a landmine buried in the ground. It exploded, seriously injuring him. He lost consciousness. 

Traveling was dangerous, and it was impossible for Omar to get medical care quickly. It wasn't until several weeks later, when the situation stabilized, that he was finally admitted to the May 22 Hospital in Aden. Given the severity of his injuries, the doctors had to make the difficult decision to amputate his leg to save his life. 

Coping with an Amputation  

Omar is struggling to cope with his amputation. Getting around is extremely difficult for him, and certain daily activities now require a great deal of effort. For this former farmer, the situation is particularly trying. He worries that he will no longer be able to care for his son.  

For several years, this sudden loss of mobility and independence deeply affected him, plunging him into despair and a sense of being a burden. In total, Omar went four years without a prosthesis until he was put in touch with HI in 2020. 

HI ‘s support made all the difference 

In 2020, after years of hardship, Omar regained hope when HI teams began carrying out rehabilitation activities at Al Jumhouri Hospital in Aden. At this facility, Omar received comprehensive support from the organization, including physical rehabilitation sessions and psychosocial assistance to help him overcome his trauma. 

He was fitted with a prosthesis, which proved essential to his recovery process. Little by little, he regained his mobility and began to rebuild his self-confidence. In 2024, Omar received a new, more modern, and better-fitting prosthesis, which further improved his daily life. 

His prosthesis is essential for him, as Omar, now 62 years old, suffers from osteoarthritis in his left leg (the one that was not amputated), a degenerative joint disease that causes the gradual loss of cartilage in the joints. Omar relies heavily on his prosthesis to support his body weight and to move around. 

Since 2025, he has also received financial assistance to consult an orthopedist to treat his chronic back pain related to his amputation. 

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.