Rashid Al Basha Brings Survivor Experience to 12MSP Discussion on Victim Assistance

Rashid Al Basha is a math teacher, an avid and accomplished athlete, and a survivor of a cluster munition explosion when he was nine years old. This week, he joined the Lebanese Delegation to the Twelfth Meeting of States Parties and shared his experience during the thematic discussion on Victim Assistance.

Rashid’s personal testimony highlighted the catastrophic impact of cluster munitions on individuals, communities and livelihoods. “I suffered not only physically but also psychologically because I lost all hope and was traumatized. In spite of those difficulties, I did not want to accept that this experience would kill off my dreams,” he shared.

“There are many victims and survivors who are destroyed in psychological terms, they are refused and rejected by the societies they live in,” Rashid said, noting the particular challenge for women survivors.

With support from family and the Government of Lebanon, Rashid was able to persevere and continued his primary and secondary school and obtained a university degree in education. “Being a teacher enables me to send a message to children so that in my story they can see something which will encourage them to work to go beyond their difficulties and realize their dreams,” he said.

In addition to his teaching work and sports activities, Rashid works with local organizations providing peer-support to  cluster munition victims, knowing intimately how critical this is for a comprehensive and successful rehabilitation process.

In closing, Rashid thanked the Lebanese Government for the assistance provided in the field of education and healthcare and to the Lebanese Mine Action Center as well for the training provided to victims.

Listen to Rashid’s statement in his own words here.