Woman loses her leg to a landmine in South Waziristan

A woman lost her leg in a landmine explosion in South Waziristan Thursday afternoon.  Shamim Bibi, wife of Zafar Ali, stepped on a landmine in the Karam Garrerai area of Ladha tehsil at around 1:45pm on Thursday, the area's assistant commissioner said. She was taken to Civil Hospital, Ladha in critical condition and then referred to the District Headquarters Hospital in Dera Ismail Khan, which is 135 kilometres away. Her relative, Saqib, told SAMAA Digital that they had to bring her to the DHQ hospital themselves. The administration did not provide an ambulance, much less a paramedic to go with us, he said. Shamim Bibi is currently still in critical condition and is in the ICU at the hospital, sources said. Related: Landmine blast injures four people in Dera Bugti She is not the first casualty of landmines in South Waziristan. On March 16, a 12-year-old girl died in Kotki after she stepped on a landmine. The Pakistan Army began its operation against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban in South Waziristan in 2009. One million people were displaced due to the violence in the area and many returned after the army announced the area was clear in 2015. However, landmines are still buried across the region. According to estimates, from 2015 till date, 20 people have been killed and over 100 injured. Many security forces have lost their lives while clearing the area of landmines. The army says 90% of the area is now clear. Follow SAMAA English on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.