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| Acid attack survivor: 'There are more good people than bad' | Acid attack survivor: 'There are more good people than bad' |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| An Ethiopian woman disfigured after her estranged husband attacked her with acid in 2017, says that despite her suffering she has reasons to be thankful. | An Ethiopian woman disfigured after her estranged husband attacked her with acid in 2017, says that despite her suffering she has reasons to be thankful. |
| "There are more good people in the world than there are bad people," Atsede Nguse told the BBC on the phone from her new home in the US. | "There are more good people in the world than there are bad people," Atsede Nguse told the BBC on the phone from her new home in the US. |
| "I have been touched by the kindness and love people showed me after the incident," the 29-year-old mother of one said. | "I have been touched by the kindness and love people showed me after the incident," the 29-year-old mother of one said. |
| The acid poured over her destroyed her face and burned through her body. | The acid poured over her destroyed her face and burned through her body. |
| She could not get treatment in an Ethiopian hospital and did not have money to go elsewhere. | She could not get treatment in an Ethiopian hospital and did not have money to go elsewhere. |
| When they learned what had happened, friends and well-wishers raised money to pay for treatment in Thailand. | When they learned what had happened, friends and well-wishers raised money to pay for treatment in Thailand. |
| But that money ran out before Ms Atsede was properly healed and she had to return home. | But that money ran out before Ms Atsede was properly healed and she had to return home. |
| Then, for a second time, someone came to her assistance. | Then, for a second time, someone came to her assistance. |
| 'Touched my heart' | 'Touched my heart' |
| Menbere Aklilu, an Ethiopian women's rights activist based in the US, read about what had happened to Ms Atsede on Facebook. | Menbere Aklilu, an Ethiopian women's rights activist based in the US, read about what had happened to Ms Atsede on Facebook. |
| As a survivor of domestic violence herself, she said she wanted to help. | As a survivor of domestic violence herself, she said she wanted to help. |
| "When I read her story, I felt sorry like everyone else. But when I knew she was a mother, I thought: 'What if my son was in her son's place?' | "When I read her story, I felt sorry like everyone else. But when I knew she was a mother, I thought: 'What if my son was in her son's place?' |
| "This really touched my heart." | "This really touched my heart." |
| Acid Survivors Trust International, a UK-based non-governmental organisation, estimates that between 50 and 75 women are attacked with acid in Ethiopia every year. | Acid Survivors Trust International, a UK-based non-governmental organisation, estimates that between 50 and 75 women are attacked with acid in Ethiopia every year. |
| This figure fits into a larger pattern of domestic violence. | This figure fits into a larger pattern of domestic violence. |
| A 2016 Ethiopian government study said that more than a third of adult women who were or had been in a relationship had been the victims of physical, sexual or emotional violence at the hands of their partner. | A 2016 Ethiopian government study said that more than a third of adult women who were or had been in a relationship had been the victims of physical, sexual or emotional violence at the hands of their partner. |
| The attack on Ms Atsede can be seen in this context. | |
| Neighbours' warning | Neighbours' warning |
| Her husband, whom she married in 2012, would beat her over minor disagreements. | Her husband, whom she married in 2012, would beat her over minor disagreements. |
| "Our neighbours were worried, and said he may kill me some day. Despite it all, I continued to live with him for the sake of my child. I didn't want him to grow without a father, as I did." | "Our neighbours were worried, and said he may kill me some day. Despite it all, I continued to live with him for the sake of my child. I didn't want him to grow without a father, as I did." |
| Finally, in 2015, after being beaten so severely that she had lost a lot of teeth and her face had swollen up, she left Gambella, in the west of Ethiopia, and returned to her hometown. | Finally, in 2015, after being beaten so severely that she had lost a lot of teeth and her face had swollen up, she left Gambella, in the west of Ethiopia, and returned to her hometown. |
| "After I went to Adigrat, my mum and my sister, who lived in Saudi Arabia, helped me open a small cosmetics shop. I was doing well." | "After I went to Adigrat, my mum and my sister, who lived in Saudi Arabia, helped me open a small cosmetics shop. I was doing well." |
| But in June 2017, her husband got back in touch by phone, pretending to be abroad. | But in June 2017, her husband got back in touch by phone, pretending to be abroad. |
| "He was acting as if he was calling from Saudi Arabia. But suddenly I heard the sound of kids speaking in our local language, Tigrinya." | "He was acting as if he was calling from Saudi Arabia. But suddenly I heard the sound of kids speaking in our local language, Tigrinya." |
| The following month, he came to her mother's house in Adigrat. | The following month, he came to her mother's house in Adigrat. |
| "He was hiding [in the bushes outside]. I saw him come close to me. He then poured something on my head and all over my body," Ms Atsede remembers, her voice cracking. | "He was hiding [in the bushes outside]. I saw him come close to me. He then poured something on my head and all over my body," Ms Atsede remembers, her voice cracking. |
| The acid started burning her immediately. | The acid started burning her immediately. |
| "I then cried out and shouted for help. My mother, brother and sister came running. But he escaped in a vehicle that was waiting for him." | "I then cried out and shouted for help. My mother, brother and sister came running. But he escaped in a vehicle that was waiting for him." |
| 'We share our pain' | 'We share our pain' |
| Ms Atsede suffered major burns to her hands, face, chest, ears, and one of her legs. She also lost her eyesight. | Ms Atsede suffered major burns to her hands, face, chest, ears, and one of her legs. She also lost her eyesight. |
| The local hospital could not help her. | The local hospital could not help her. |
| But for her the most heartbreaking thing was her five-year-old son's reaction. | But for her the most heartbreaking thing was her five-year-old son's reaction. |
| "After the attack, my family brought my son to visit. When he got in to the room where I was, they told him to greet me, saying, 'She's your mum.' | "After the attack, my family brought my son to visit. When he got in to the room where I was, they told him to greet me, saying, 'She's your mum.' |
| "He then looked at me and said: 'No, she is not my mum; my mum is beautiful.'" | "He then looked at me and said: 'No, she is not my mum; my mum is beautiful.'" |
| After Ms Atsede returned from Thailand, she stayed at a centre for survivors of domestic violence in the capital, Addis Ababa. | After Ms Atsede returned from Thailand, she stayed at a centre for survivors of domestic violence in the capital, Addis Ababa. |
| Eyelid surgery | Eyelid surgery |
| Ms Menbere contacted her there and managed, after battling with the immigration process, to get her to the US. | Ms Menbere contacted her there and managed, after battling with the immigration process, to get her to the US. |
| She raised money from friends and family - and even strangers have helped out after hearing about Ms Atsede's plight. | She raised money from friends and family - and even strangers have helped out after hearing about Ms Atsede's plight. |
| The activist says she treats Ms Atsede like her own daughter: "We live together. We share our pain and experience. | The activist says she treats Ms Atsede like her own daughter: "We live together. We share our pain and experience. |
| "I help women because I love myself. Because every time you help someone, your own wound heals. In addition, I believe I can motivate others to help." | "I help women because I love myself. Because every time you help someone, your own wound heals. In addition, I believe I can motivate others to help." |
| Ms Atsede is now being helped by medics in California and is determined to live a normal life. | Ms Atsede is now being helped by medics in California and is determined to live a normal life. |
| "I have undergone successful surgery for my eyelids. I did not have eyelids. I can now open and close my eyes," she says, hoping that one day she will get her sight back. | "I have undergone successful surgery for my eyelids. I did not have eyelids. I can now open and close my eyes," she says, hoping that one day she will get her sight back. |
| "I have also completed a Braille course and I am learning computers. I have big dreams, and I know I am going to make it.'' | "I have also completed a Braille course and I am learning computers. I have big dreams, and I know I am going to make it.'' |
| Her husband has never been found, but has been sentenced to life in prison in absentia. | Her husband has never been found, but has been sentenced to life in prison in absentia. |
| "If I could see him, I would only ask him one question: 'Why did you do this to me?'" | "If I could see him, I would only ask him one question: 'Why did you do this to me?'" |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |