Zubaida was nine years old. She was one of eight children in a nomadic family of ten—eight siblings and two parents—who moved from place to place. The family originally came from the Farah region of Afghanistan. In August 2001, Zubaida was inside a home heating a cooking burner with kerosene when the fuel ignited. The flames spread instantly, and she caught fire. Her face, neck, chest, and arms were severely burned.
Once the fire was out, her father rushed her to a nearby medical provider, where she was treated with several ointments. As her condition worsened, he decided to take her to Iran for further care. Zubaida was admitted to a hospital in Iran for 20 days and then discharged. Doctors there advised her father to take her home so she could die there. Zubaida did not die from her injuries, but she was left with a devastating deformity, significant functional disability, and a deeply damaged sense of self-esteem.
