Enduring Hardships: Sida’s Story of Survival
Kham Sida, a 52-year-old woman from Cambodia, has faced unimaginable hardships throughout her life due to landmines. Living with her two children, a 13-year-old son and a 22-year-old daughter, Kham’s life took a tragic turn when she stepped on a landmine at a young age. Now, with the support of APOPO, there is hope that no other families will have to endure the same suffering.
“My name is Kham Sida, and my life changed forever in September 1983. It was a rainy day, and I had just finished school. As I walked back from the rice field where I helped my parents, I stepped on a landmine. The explosion took my leg. I fainted and don’t remember much, but my father told me that my uncle carried me to the hospital. The war was still ongoing then, and there were many fights. The land where the accident happened is still being farmed today, even though another accident occurred a month later, killing a buffalo.
After the accident, I received a prosthetic leg from Preah Vihear about ten years ago. Before that, I used sticks to move around, but it was very difficult. The leg allowed me to do more, like carrying water upstairs. Life became slightly easier, but I still couldn’t help much in the fields. My husband, who had also lost a leg to a landmine during the war, took care of the fieldwork with the help of our relatives. Even though he was in pain, he managed because his amputation was below the knee, allowing him to work more than I could.
After my husband passed away from sickness, my children had to leave school to support our family by planting rice. It broke my heart to see them carrying such a burden. I worried about their safety while working in the fields, but we had no other choice.
The landmines hidden around our home continue to be a constant threat. However, with APOPO’s efforts to clear the land, no more families will have to suffer like mine. APOPO is now working to remove the landmines from around our village, so that our fields and paths can be safe.
This means my children will be able to work in the fields without fear. It means no other child has to quit school to support their family because of a landmine accident.”
