13-year-old Nadin* was attending a wedding near the frontlines. When artillery shells hit the house where they were celebrating.
A celebration turned into tragedy
While the village was dark due to the lack of electricity, the brightly lit house attracted the attention of armed groups. That's when shelling struck the house – turning what should have been a joyful occasion into a tragedy.
The attack left Nadin with severe injuries resulting in the amputation of her leg. Two of her friends were injured, and a 9-month-old boy later underwent surgery to amputate his hand.
A lifesaving decision no parent should face
At the hospital, amputation was the only option to save her life. Nadin said: “When I woke up from surgery and found out my leg was gone, I was in shock and kept saying, ‘Give me back my leg, why did you take it?’ But now I thank God that I’m still alive and better off than others who lost their lives.”
Nadin’s father, Mohammed* said: “The worst moment of my life was when the doctors told us that Nadin’s leg had to be amputated. Signing that consent paper felt impossible. But when the doctors told me that my daughter could die if I hesitated, I signed it with a heart full of pain.”
After the surgery, Nadin withdrew completely, refusing to speak to anyone. The turning point came when Save the Children arranged for her to share a hospital room with two friends who were in the same explosion. This companionship, combined with group mental health sessions, helped her begin to heal.
The road to recovery
Now, after months of Save the Children's support, Nadin is recovering and is remarkably optimistic about the future.
"I dream of healing and continuing my studies so I can become a doctor and help patients, especially children, because they need support," Nadin says. "I also want to inspire other children by sharing my story and telling them to stay strong and believe in themselves because no matter how difficult their experience is, they will overcome it in the end."
Children in Yemen urgently need support to recover from trauma, access healthcare and education, and rebuild their lives. Save the Children, with humanitarian funding from the European Union, provided life-changing support to Nadin and her family. This included covering the emergency surgeries, mental health and psychosocial support, and planning for physiotherapy and a prosthetic limb.
Nadin participated in group psychosocial support sessions with two friends who were injured. Sharing her experience helped her begin to heal emotionally. The family also received food assistance, shelter support, and referrals for cash assistance to support their livelihood.
Supporting children affected by conflict
Yemen has been facing a humanitarian crisis for over a decade due to protracted conflict, economic crisis and the collapse of basic services. The conflict has caused significant loss of life and injury, leaving more than 19 million people in need of assistance. Children in Yemen face daily violence. According to the United Nations, at least 11,733 children were killed and maimed between 2013 and 2024.
Save the Children, funded by the European Union, provides protection and education support for children in Aden, Lahj, Taiz and AlDhale’ in Internationally- Recognized Government (IRG)- controlled areas. The project aims to prevent and respond to child protection risks while promoting recovery and resilience. Activities include specialized care for children injured by landmines, the provision of direct support or referrals for children facing abuse, neglect or exploitation, as well as mental health support and cash assistance.
Nadin, 13, lives with her parents and eight siblings. She was forced to drop out of school due to severe injuries from a shelling incident. The attack occurred at a house near the frontlines during a wedding party that she was attending with friends and family, where several people were injured. Nadin says, “When I woke up from surgery and found out my leg was gone, I cried a lot. I was in shock and kept screaming, ‘Give me back my leg, why did you take it?” Zaid Shaker / Save the Chidlren