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I want to continue studying, but am afraid I will not be able to see any more…
By Mom Phireak, Mine Risk Education Program Coordinator, March 17 2005
Living with his poor parents in Bansay Rak village, Bansay Rak commune, Samrong district of Odor Meanchey province, his life was typical of an 8 year old, studying in grade 2 at primary school and helping his parents around the house. At 5pm on the 16th January 2005, Sopha lost three fingers and his sight, after he picked up a UXO which exploded 50 meters away from his house. Now he can’t attend school or help his parents. With a very small piece of UXO lodged in his right eye, he was rushed to a provincial hospital by his parents, 8 km away from his village. Crying and in a lot of pain, with the doctors only being able do little, he was sent to Koma Angkor Children’s Hospital in Siem Reap province. There he stayed for 15 days of treatment, until his family had to leave. Having to make the sacrifice, Sopha’s family could not afford to stay away from the farm – their only source of income – any longer. Leaving with medicine provided by the hospital, Sopha’s father explained ‘If I continued to stay in hospital with my children, I would not be able to plant my crops in the rainy season. I needed to go back home to clear and clean my land for cultivation. My wife is also sick. My children are very young, so I don’t have other members in my family help me’. With the hospital allowing Sopha to go home early on the premise that he continued using the medicine for 15 days and returned for a check up, 30 days later Sopha is still at home. Sopha’s parents cannot afford the 60 000 reil (US$15) traveling costs to get back to Siem Reap for the check up. Nor can they afford to buy more medicine or leave the farm. ‘I can’t open my eye’, says Sopha. ‘Tears always come from my eye when I try to open it and it really hurts. I am very blind. I don’t have any medicine to help it. Since the accident, I haven’t been able to go to school. My parents have kept me at home, as we don’t have any money to get to the hospital.’ Sadly, Sopha is one of many mine victims that need Social Rehabilitation. Living in a high risk area, Sopha’s village is located in the North-West around 8 km from Odor Meanchey provincial town. As with many villages located around this area, it was reported that during the war seven truck loads full of mines and UXO were layed around the village. While some parts of the area including areas along the road, land for housing and planting agriculture crops were cleaned by demining agencies from 2002 – 2004, there are still many unexploded mines and UXO’s. With a population of more than 670 and a primary school in the village, it is still very dangerous for many residents. ‘While the demining agencies should continue to clear and destroy mine/UXOs, Mine risk education is still very important and needed to continue educating people in this community,’ says Mom Phireak, Mine/UXO Risk Education Program Coordinator of the Cambodia Red Cross. ‘It is especially important to educate the children and support the land mine victims through Social Rehabilitation.’ Although the CRC has limited funding to support Sopha, the CRC is supporting Sopha and his family by transporting them to the hospital so he can continue treatment. Together the Cambodian Red Cross Land Mine Risk Education (LMRE) Development Officer in Oddar Meanchey province, Red Cross Volunteers in Bansay Rak village and community leaders and a neighbor organized travel and food allowances for Sopha and his parents to travel to Siem Reap on the 16th March 2005. While treatment is urgently needed, so is long term support for Sophea and his family. Through donations and limited funding, the Red Cross is working to improve the quality of life to mine victims by promoting humanitarian value in community. As part of the Cambodian Red Cross Land Mine Risk Education Program, Social rehabilitation activities have been incorporated into the project. The social rehabilitation activity aims to help victims and their families possess adequate capacity to earn good living and sustainable life through addressing their basic needs, including food security and social protection. The Cambodian Red Cross is currently seeking further donations for Sopha and other victims so they can sustain their livelihoods in the future. Please help Land Mine Victims and support the Red Cross’ activities by contacting us: Ms. Men Neary Sopheak, Director, Communications Department
Cambodian Red Cross Office telephone: (+855) 23 212 876, (+855) 23 362 876 E-Mail: Sopheak.MenNeary@redcross.org.kh or LMA@redcross.org.kh |
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