Dana and Zana Hussein are twin brothers. Their family's village Khidr Blakh, northern Iraq, was subjected to the Anfal Campaign by the former Iraqi regime at the end of 80s. During this time 4000 similar villages were destroyed and 182,000 civillians disappeared. The twins' family was displaced, along with thousands of others, to the collective town Shorish, in Chamchamal district, northern Iraq. Here, the twins were born.
When Dana and Zana were old enough their father, Amin Hussein, told them about the village where they used to live. He said: "We don't belong to this town and perhaps one day things will change and we will be able to go back to our own village." Dana and Zana thought only of the day when their family could return.
Dana Hussein
The collapse of the Iraqi regime earlier this year gave them the chance they had hoped for for so long and like so many others, they returned back to Khidr Blakh. To Dana and Zana it was a dream come true and a new start for their family. However, they knew nothing of the hidden danger that was awaiting them. Making the long journey back home, the twins didn't have a thought about the mines that littered their village.
Zana Hussein
On Saturday June 28, 2003, while the two brothers were walking around their village, they triggered a V69 - one of the deadliest anti-personnel mines in the world. The V69 jumps up a metre out of the ground and sprays lethal pellets over a 30m radius. When they woke they were in Azady hospital in Kirkuk, northern Iraq. Dana lost both of his legs below the knee and Zana lost one leg. The two brothers asked whether they could have their legs back to ride their bicycle. They have promised each other to stay together 'in distress and in happiness'. Neither is sure about their future.
Dana and Zana are 12 years old and intend to go back to school next year if provided with prosthetic legs.
June 2003
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