In brief
Berhane Haile, a 16-year-old from Tigray, lost his leg after stepping on unexploded ordnance while walking home from school. Following the civil war ending in 2022, Tigray is still plagued by remnants of conflict, claiming lives and causing injuries. Berhane's experience illustrates the ongoing struggle for communities to heal and rebuild amidst the lingering threat of explosives.
Article Text: In northern Ethiopia's mountainous Tigray region, 16-year-old Berhane Haile faced a life-altering event earlier this year while walking home from school. An explosive blast struck when Berhane unknowingly stepped on a piece of ordnance, resulting in severe injuries to his left leg and both hands. “The explosion threw me away backward. There was blood everywhere,” he recalled. After enduring a two-hour struggle on foot, carried by his father and local villagers to the nearest hospital in Adwa, Berhane’s leg was amputated, and parts of his hands were lost.The remnants of civil war that ended in November 2022 have left Tigray littered with unexploded munitions, including grenades and shells, creating a lethal landscape. An estimated half a million lives were lost during the brutal conflict lasting two years between Ethiopian and Eritrean forces and local Tigrayan fighters. Although peace has been declared, tragic accidents continue to occur; the Red Cross reported nearly 400 explosion victims in 2023, predominantly children.In Seyabo, Berhane’s farming village, residents face daily dangers from remnants of warfare. After discovering his family's sheep straying, he made a detour off the main path that led to the explosive and changed his life forever. Tragically, Nigsti Gidey lost her husband to a similar fate while working in their village.Authorities are struggling with the overwhelming task of collecting and safely disposing of unexploded ordnance. Police chief Hadush Gebremedhin has requested more resources and support but has yet to hear back. As local officials attempt to deal with the horrors of war, people live in fear. Explosive remnants remain a deadly hazard as they attempt to rebuild their lives in a region devastated by conflict.Despite the war’s aftermath, Berhane returned to school months after his accident, but life was far from normal. Having lost family members to the conflict and seeing others gravely injured, he has endured immense challenges. Although he has received a prosthetic leg and crutches to aid his mobility, the physical limitations have altered his path. Now independent from farming—a family tradition he loved—he has settled in Adwa to continue his education. He expresses mixed feelings about his situation and his future aspirations. With the unwavering support of his sister, who is also navigating the hardships of post-war life, Berhane aims to pursue a career as a civil servant, proving that hope persists amid devastation.
