WOMAN LEFT BLIND AFTER A HORRIFIC ACID ATTACK BY HER HUSBAND

Atsede Nigussiem, 26, was at home when she opened the door to her estranged partner Haimanot Kahsai.

Without any warning, the 29-year-old allegedly poured acid all over the mother’s face leaving her in agony as her five-year-old son slept inside.Atsede ran screaming into the street for help from neighbours in Tigrai, Ethiopia, while Haimanot fled into the night

Two months later Astede is still in pain, her mouth has been melted together so she cannot talk, she is blind in her left eye and at high risk of losing the sight in her right eye.She eats and drinks with a straw and spends every day‘crying non-stop’.It is one of the few things she can still do.

Astede is receiving treatment today from burns specialists in Bangkok, Thailand.

To fund the extensive treatment, the specialists have launched a donations page on Atsede’s behalf.

From her hospital bed, Atsede wrote: ‘I don’t know why my husband did this.I was at my parent’s house late at night. I just opened the door and it happened. I’m heartbroken and in pain.’

Astede said she had been married for five years to her husband before he moved to neighbouring 

Yemen for work February and they lost contact.He then returned unexpectedly and launched the unprovoked acid attack after turning up unannounced at 11 pm on July 15.

She was rushed to a hospital where doctors gave her emergency care for wounds on her face, chest, hands and legs.But medics recommended travelling abroad for long-term care and treatment.

The devastated mother flew to Bangkok with her sister where burns specialists at the city’s Vejthani Hospital are battling to save the little eyesight she has left.Regional manager at the hospital Masha Zhigunova said it is a ‘very difficult case’.She said: ‘Astede’s face will never be the same again.

‘One eye is gone and the second eye is almost gone and her skin is all melted.

‘Even she has no idea why the husband did this. She reported this to the police but he had already run away.’Masha said that Astede is being treated by Dr Sivat Luanraksa who is experienced in dealing with severe burns.

She added: ‘Astede requires debridement of necrotic tissue on her face and extremities.

‘Secondly, she needs debridement and acellular dermal matrix grafting and thirdly, split thickness skin grafting.

‘Thankfully now she is the best place with one of the world’s best doctors looking after her. We’re all supporting her.’Head here to donate towards Astede’s care.