Stories
| TRUE STORIES FROM MINE VICTIMS IN NORTHERN ALBANIA |
| This is the story of LUMTURI MUHADRI, a twelve year old boy, living in the village of Vlahen in the Has region of North Eastern Albania, 1 km away from the border with Kosovo. An accident on October 30th, 2002, changed his life when he lost the sight in one eye. |
| Lumturi Muhadri’s house is only 2 km away from the border with Kosovo. He is a lad of twelve with three brothers and three sisters, the oldest of whom is only eighteen. Young Lumturi is in Year 5 at school. None of his family members are in work. They attempt to survive on $ 20 government assistance given to his father, now redundant from his work at the former copper mine. The family is very poor. One cow, one donkey and 1100 square meters land are all they own. Their goats met their end stumbling into the land-mines in 1999. |
IThe other grazing areas and communal forest around the village are
now land-mined. The mine fields start only 500 meters from their front
door. What are they to do?
now land-mined. The mine fields start only 500 meters from their front
door. What are they to do?
Where else can these children go to graze the animals? Up until 1993
Lumturi’s father, like so many of his neighbors, used to work in the copper
mine. The village of Vlahen had always been totally dependent on the
copper mine and small scale animal husbandry. Now the copper mine has
closed down. The areas have been mined in a different and deadly way by
Serb forces. Death planted in the earth.
Lumturi’s father, like so many of his neighbors, used to work in the copper
mine. The village of Vlahen had always been totally dependent on the
copper mine and small scale animal husbandry. Now the copper mine has
closed down. The areas have been mined in a different and deadly way by
Serb forces. Death planted in the earth.
Everyone in the village lives like in an ambush, with their ears open,
scared that any minute they will hear of the next victim. Any loud bang
brings the whole village running in trepidation to see what tragedy has
struck. The latest victim, but doubtless not the last, they say….another
friend out collecting wood stepping on a land-mine, another friend grazing
the sheep fallen victim, a child playing just that bit too far off the path….?
scared that any minute they will hear of the next victim. Any loud bang
brings the whole village running in trepidation to see what tragedy has
struck. The latest victim, but doubtless not the last, they say….another
friend out collecting wood stepping on a land-mine, another friend grazing
the sheep fallen victim, a child playing just that bit too far off the path….?
One autumn day, after returning home from school, Lumturi went
out as usual. The sun had shone longer than usual this autumn and
he felt happy as he set off with his friends to graze the only cow and
donkey they had left. Land-mine accidents had already robbed them
of some of their animals and the demands of eking a living on the
poverty line had depleted them of the others.
Over the last two years they had taken to grazing the animals in an
area they judged as safe about 2 km away from the border with
Kosovo. It was ironically called a” safety area”, but turned out to be
far from safe…One unwitting false move and the lethal land-mine
changed Lumturi’s life for ever, robbing him of the sight in his right
eye.
out as usual. The sun had shone longer than usual this autumn and
he felt happy as he set off with his friends to graze the only cow and
donkey they had left. Land-mine accidents had already robbed them
of some of their animals and the demands of eking a living on the
poverty line had depleted them of the others.
Over the last two years they had taken to grazing the animals in an
area they judged as safe about 2 km away from the border with
Kosovo. It was ironically called a” safety area”, but turned out to be
far from safe…One unwitting false move and the lethal land-mine
changed Lumturi’s life for ever, robbing him of the sight in his right
eye.
“I was playing, while the animals were grazing”, he said, “ I ran towards a bush to
catch my improvised “ball”, but suddenly … I heard an explosion and it felt like my eye
had been ripped out. I fell to the ground in terrible pain. It seemed as if my head had
been blown off my body… A warm liquid stared to pour out of my leg…. Then…I can’t
remember what happened to me. I was unconscious, lost in a dream… until I awoke,
finding myself in a hospital bed, with my father and mother standing at my head, tears
in their eyes running down their cheeks. Then I remember asking for my friend, but he
was hours and hours away up in our village. I could see nothing with my right eye
which was covered in bandages. It wasn’t long before the doctor had to tell me he felt I
would never be able to see with that eye again. I could not hold back the tears.
I thought of my friends. I wouldn’t be able to play with them as before. How would I be
able to go to school and do my work?”
catch my improvised “ball”, but suddenly … I heard an explosion and it felt like my eye
had been ripped out. I fell to the ground in terrible pain. It seemed as if my head had
been blown off my body… A warm liquid stared to pour out of my leg…. Then…I can’t
remember what happened to me. I was unconscious, lost in a dream… until I awoke,
finding myself in a hospital bed, with my father and mother standing at my head, tears
in their eyes running down their cheeks. Then I remember asking for my friend, but he
was hours and hours away up in our village. I could see nothing with my right eye
which was covered in bandages. It wasn’t long before the doctor had to tell me he felt I
would never be able to see with that eye again. I could not hold back the tears.
I thought of my friends. I wouldn’t be able to play with them as before. How would I be
able to go to school and do my work?”
Now, with impaired sight, he does have problems getting safely to school. Thankfully
his brother is able to accompany him on the long walk over the rough hillside from
home to school. Thankfully his leg injury was superficial, but he can’t read and write
like before. His teacher, Bajram, told us that he was among the best pupils, but now
he feels Lumturi is under great strain. He has good, loyal friends, but his accident
has created such problems for his progress. Something more should be done to help
him learn to cope despite his injury.
his brother is able to accompany him on the long walk over the rough hillside from
home to school. Thankfully his leg injury was superficial, but he can’t read and write
like before. His teacher, Bajram, told us that he was among the best pupils, but now
he feels Lumturi is under great strain. He has good, loyal friends, but his accident
has created such problems for his progress. Something more should be done to help
him learn to cope despite his injury.
Lumturi continued his story, “Then the VMA, the land-mine victims association came and
supported me over a few days at the hospital …and later at home. They also supported
me to complete the school through catch up classes. They visit me often and this gives me
hope, as they always tell me that they are trying to find people interested to help me.
supported me over a few days at the hospital …and later at home. They also supported
me to complete the school through catch up classes. They visit me often and this gives me
hope, as they always tell me that they are trying to find people interested to help me.
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| TRUE STORIES FROM MINE VICTIMS IN NORTHERN ALBANIA |
The family knows of the danger on their doorstep. Vlahen’s 900 inhabitants live in little houses spread over a wide
area of remote hillside.
area of remote hillside.
I just hope someone will really feel for our plight up here in this
remote and forgotten part of Europe and give a modest
contribution so we can change our lives… just a little money
can make a change, can raise our hopes and can help us to
help ourselves to better our lives. One doctor even told me
that with a specialist operation they might even be able to
restore my sight. He said that there are clinics abroad where
they can check every detail of what has happened to my eye
and do amazing operations like that. I wish that didn’t have to
remain a dream. Who knows, maybe then, in years to come I
would be able to become a doctor myself and use my
expertise to help others. But I suppose that too will need to
remain a dream. “
remote and forgotten part of Europe and give a modest
contribution so we can change our lives… just a little money
can make a change, can raise our hopes and can help us to
help ourselves to better our lives. One doctor even told me
that with a specialist operation they might even be able to
restore my sight. He said that there are clinics abroad where
they can check every detail of what has happened to my eye
and do amazing operations like that. I wish that didn’t have to
remain a dream. Who knows, maybe then, in years to come I
would be able to become a doctor myself and use my
expertise to help others. But I suppose that too will need to
remain a dream. “
Then he tells us that Lumturi is not the only one. In Vlahen village there are five other
children like him with loss or damage to legs and arms. Four of them have already given up
school. Maybe a classroom assistant could be funded to support these pupils with special
needs.
children like him with loss or damage to legs and arms. Four of them have already given up
school. Maybe a classroom assistant could be funded to support these pupils with special
needs.
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