Landmines: Letters from Sohrab

4 March 1998

Letters from Sohrab, young Afghan survivor.

Students at the Lycee de Beauregard in France sent a letter to Sohrab and Nafisa, two young Afghan mine survivors. Sohrab’s reply, sent via the UN Mine Action Programme, and the students’ original letter to Sohrab appear below.

Dearest Sohrab, We are so deeply touched by your story. It’s so terrible we can’t find the words to express our feelings... We are shocked by the attitude of your school staff. Isn’t it possible for somebody to carry you up to your classroom every morning? It could be someone different every day. Knowing your story makes us even more motivated about the project. We have to do something, this is not acceptable. We would like to send you some French Christmas sweets. Is it possible? What is your address? We think about you a lot, you have 19 new friends in France now. We’ll keep in touch, dear Sohrab. If you can’t go to school, we can send you books to help. Alex, Nico, Xavier, Mickael, Ben, Benjamin, Miguel, Vincent, Cyril, Benoit, Julien, Vincent.... And Brigitte, Christine, Michel, Jean-Franois, their teachers

Sohrab’s reply:

I received your letter on 07 February 1998. Thank you for your letter and your attention to my story. I really became very pleased that there are still some people who listen to my feelings. I thought that I was a useless body, but now I realize that someone loves me. Nowadays I’m studying my school books at home, and want to study a lot if possible. I am at home full time. Some weeks ago, the day was clear & bright. Only a few clouds could be seen in the sky. I decided to go to the park near our house with my sister. I was looking at the children playing in the park. Suddenly a car came and honked to inform me to get off the road. My sister was playing with the children, and I was not able to get out of his way. I called my sister to take me out of the way, but she did not hear. The driver became very angry and came out of his car. He came angrily towards me and slapped my face. I cried out for a while and became disappointed because of the cruelty of the driver. We are living in a two story house in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The owner of this house is living in the lower portion and we are in the upper. The owner of the house is complaining about me and saying that I am creating problems for the owner and my wheelchair is the major problem. I always ask my mother whether "she loves me". In reply she says, "yes, my son - why not?" But I do not believe that because I am a disabled child and maybe she loves my brother more as he is not a disabled. Thanks for your attention, Sohrab,

Send your letters and questions for them to global_teachin@un.org. Make sure the subject field says: ‘Letters to Afghanistan’ and don’t forget to include your name and/or the name of your school.