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Surviving a Cluster Bomb Accident

Eea Lee was digging in a rice field when his hoe hit a cluster bomb close to his feet. It took nearly a day for him to travel from his home in a remote part of Laos to the province hospital in Phonsavanh, where doctors had to amputate both his legs.

Eea Lee is 32 year old Hmong man from a remote village in northern Laos.

Eea Lee practices walking on his new prosthetic legs.

When his accident occurred, he and his wife had five children and were expecting their sixth. At first he was devastated and worried that he could no longer work in the fields and care for his family.

Through the help of World Education, who manages the War Victims Medical Fund, Eea Lee received funds to cover his medical expenses, travel costs, and food while he was in the hospital.  While he was recovering, World Education staff interviewed Mr. Lee and his family and determined that they needed training in new vocational skills, since Mr. Lee would no longer be able to farm. After he was fitted for prosthetic legs and in good health, he attended a workshop in animal raising and veterinary skills, and is looking forward to beginning a new career and continuing to spend time with his family.

Photograph by Barbara Lewis.