Mon Man can never forget the moment that divides his life into a before and after—the moment he stepped on a landmine that took off his leg. He now joins the ranks of 300,000 children worldwide, many in his homeland of Cambodia, who have been maimed by landmines.
Mon Man lost his leg when he strayed from a familiar and seemingly safe path by a mere seven inches. "On that day, my mother asked me to pick some vegetables," recalls Mon Man. "This was so my little brothers and sisters had something to eat." There was a loud blast. "I didn't know what happened at first. Then I saw I lost my leg."
For months after the accident he stayed at home, watching his friends play, but unable to join them. Even his young brother, who used to shadow him, left him alone. Mon Man was despondent, believing that he could not expect anything good in the future. His mother was distraught. "I look at my neighbor's children. They all have two legs. Mon Man was born with two legs but now has one. I feel so sorry for him," she lamented.
But Mon Man's future was not as bleak as he thought. His stump had been healing for months when he heard that he was ready to be fitted for a prosthetic leg. He took his young brother to the rehabilitative center for moral support. Even so, as he watched other amputees practice using their new legs he was worried. The challenged seemed overwhelming. He wondered whether he would ever be able to ride a bike again.
Mon Man had to start from scratch, learning how to balance. Eventually, he came to understand that despite his fear, this was his only chance to have a semblance of normal life and he was determined to take it. "I will do my best to learn how to use my new leg", he said. "I must. My mother and father need my help."
And learn he did. At the end of that first long day, after a lot of practice, he mounted a stationary bicycle at the rehabilitative center. With his brother perched in front of him, Mon Man experienced what it had been like when the two of them used to ride together before the accident.
What's Next for Mon Man?
Mon Man has made steady progress with his prosthesis. He goes to school and helps his family with chores at home. Thanks to a Cambodian organization, Operations Enfants de Battambang (OEB), which helps rehabilitate and educate child mine casualties, he received school supplies and a uniform as well as a beloved bicycle.
Mon Man's journey, however, is far from over. His life will be marked by hospital visits, new fittings and rehabilitation for the 30 new prostheses he will need as he grows and his body changes.
Thanks to the United Nations and organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and Operations Enfants de Battambang, Mon Man will be able to receive the help he needs. The threat of landmines, however, will remain with him and the millions of other children like him in affected countries until all land is cleared.
How You Can Help
Begin by learning more. In Cambodia more than 5 million people are at risk of being killed or injured by these deadly weapons, which also interfere with economic activity and development. Clearing all the landmines, destroying existing stockpiles and banning the production of new landmines is the only sure way to restore safety.
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) coordinates efforts by UN agencies such as UNICEF and UNDP, which fund and manage education projects for primary school kids and teachers and also assist survivors.
Visit the sites of the ICRC, Handicap International, the Mine Advisory Group (MAG) and Adopt-A-Minefield to see what you can do to help. Check the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) and Cambodia Trust websites to learn what is being done specifically in Cambodia and how you can help.
