A Moment that Changed Everything
Ana’s story highlights how landmines can devastate lives long after conflicts have ended. A 37-year-old widow from Angola with three young daughters, Ana has faced unimaginable challenges. After a landmine accident blew off one foot and severely injured the other, she has had to rely on the generosity of family and neighbors. Read Ana’s story in her own words to understand the critical importance of APOPO’s demining efforts and her call for manufacturers to stop making landmines.
APOPO is following up with Ana and her family and has contacted the local authorities to ensure she receives the assistance she needs.
Thanks to the work of APOPO’s demining teams, tragedies like Ana’s can be prevented, ensuring a safer future for many families just like hers still living in the shadow of these invisible threats.
Ana’s Story
“My name is Ana, and I am 37 years old. I am from Libolo, in Cuanza Sul Province, Angola. I am a widow; my husband died of an illness. I am the mother of three daughters. My eldest, Linda, is 9 years old, Carla is 6, and my youngest, Bima, is 3 years old.
My two school-aged daughters face difficulties attending school due to a lack of available places. My late husband used to handle these issues, but since his death, things have become very complicated. I am struggling to solve this problem now. I have a brother who could help, but he lives far away, making everything more difficult. The only solution would be to enroll the children in a private school, but in my current situation, without work or means to sustain myself, it is very difficult. Even getting food has been a matter of relying on the generosity of family and neighbors, who sometimes contribute with cassava, corn, soap, or money.
I used to gather firewood for cooking, but I never imagined there would be mines in the area, as many others did the same work there. On that day, after cutting the firewood and putting it on my head, I stepped on something strange. I thought it was a broken bottle, but when I lifted my foot, the firewood and I were thrown in different directions. When I got up, I realized I had lost one foot, and the other foot was severely damaged. No one ever found that missing foot.
I started calling for help until a security guard nearby heard me. He called the police, and they took me to the municipal hospital of Libolo. I stayed there for about a month, from October to November. In June the following year, my husband passed away, and I’ve been in this situation ever since.
Before the accident, I could manage everything; I went to the fields with my husband, and we planted cassava together. We sold the produce and used the money to meet our household needs. After the accident, my husband was the one who went to the fields to get food. Since he passed away, things have become very difficult.
Currently, I am under my mother’s care, but she has problems with her sight. My eldest daughter, who is 9 years old, takes care of most of the household chores. Sometimes, people see the amount of work she has and help her out because it is too much for a child her age.
The Municipal Administration promised my husband that they would support us with a house in Mangueiras, but they were all already occupied. They then suggested that if we had land, it would be better to build on it. However, due to a lack of money, we owed money for my husband’s treatment, and we had to pay those debts, and soon after, he died. Unfortunately, he left me without a proper home. I am currently living in his eldest son’s house, but it is not in good condition.
After the accident, when I returned from the hospital, my neighbor organized some essentials for me: four large basins, a wheelbarrow, a stove, a gas cylinder, and a thermal box. I also received a mattress, a sack of flour, a box of pasta, 4 kilos of rice, salt, 2 liters of oil, and two bars of soap, but that is all.
My brother also supports me, but he has his own family and house to manage, making it complicated to support me as well. He sometimes gives me 500 kwanza for fish, but before buying anything, we assess what’s missing in the kitchen and how we can best use the money. Sometimes, distant relatives send 1000 kwanza, which helps with groceries. If no one goes to the fields to bring vegetables, we can go the whole day without eating.
Knowing that APOPO is working on demining makes me feel better and much more comfortable. The entire community was surprised by my accident, believing the area to be cleared of mines. Since I triggered the mine, people have avoided the area, but some still come to hunt, risking their lives.
I think the demining work and especially the awareness about mine risks are very important and prevent many accidents. I recommend people avoid places like this. I am traumatized, and even getting here, I was very scared and still am.
After my accident, I wish those making mines would stop because they cause so many deaths. Even though the war is over, we still have to worry about mines. Mines are much more dangerous than ordinary weapons because no one can see them.
Right now, I am worried about my children growing up near these risky fields because we never know where they are going and if they might step on a mine. Often, just a piece of metal can cause us to panic and we tell the children to drop it immediately.
My biggest recommendation is to stop making mines. Imagine someone born healthy losing a leg; it is very hard to accept.”
