CAMBODIA - Arth, aged 12

Arth Samnang is a little boy full of mischief. He lives in a dangerous region. All along the roads there are little red signs with skulls and cross bones painted on them warning of the presence of Cambodia’s “timeless sentinels”: landmines placed by various armed factions over the last thirty years. Art was with his big brother when he stepped on a mine. It was on the 20th August 2001. They were looking for firewood and wandered off the path into the fields, where there was more chance of finding some wood…
Arth spent six days in hospital after the accident that cost him his left arm. His arm had to be amputated to save his life. Since then, two other people have stepped on landmines in the area around his village. His parents only get odd labourer jobs. They saw wood, help bring in the harvest, carry out heavy manual tasks…
They have never had regular employment and life is hard for the whole family. In order to have as much chance as possible of one day finding work, Arth walks the 5km to school every day.