Ahmed was the breadwinner of the family until 6 January 2025. Before he came to the Red Cross Field Hospital, he was a taxi driver, and what he earned allowed him to take care of his family of nine (now seven – two were killed during the conflict). 
 
“Compared to the other patients, I only lost my toes and fractured my right leg.” Physically, he was recovering well, but he was constantly worrying how his family would be taken care of from now on. Because for him, everything changed; from a breadwinner, to a burden. 
 
These wounds, however, require more than just needles and stitches. 

Psychologist Steinar Johannessen, deployed from Norwegian Red Cross, worked closely with the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) staff and volunteers in this aspect of Ahmed’s recovery because, like many other victims of war, the patients are only able to see what they’ve lost. In Ahmed’s case, he couldn’t stop thinking about his inability to provide for his family like before. The MHPSS team therefore knew that it was not just important, but necessary, that there’s a simultaneous support regime of physiotherapy (for his physical recovery) as well as financial assistance (to offset the current lack of income for his family) during his recovery. 
 
This picture was taken on 1 February 2025 – some three weeks after he was admitted. Ahmed led us as we walked around the Field Hospital, retelling his story. He is grateful for the wheelchair because “they’re my legs now,” but looks forward to giving it back to the hospital, so “it’ll continue to be the legs of somebody else who needs it to learn to walk again”. He’s hoping to be discharged and back to being the breadwinner for his family again. 
 
The road to recovery is never just a physical one. Ahmed and what’s left of his family still have a long way ahead.  
 
This is a reminder of our limitation as the Red Cross. We’re only able to help alleviate a tiny bit of their suffering and help them back on their feet – hopefully enough for them to walk on their own again. 
 
We’re only able to help one person at a time. And this is just one of those stories behind all the numbers we see on reports and updates.