A decade on, survivors and families still rebuilding after Paris attacks

"She was smoking on the terrace with three friends when Islamic State group jihadists gunned down 21 people. The memory of the "terrifying silence" between the two bursts of gunfire still lingers. Eva was hit by multiple bullets on the left side of her body, including her foot. Her leg had to be amputated below the knee. Today, Eva, who wears a prosthesis, says she is doing "pretty well", even if "life isn't easy every day"."

""I have a huge scar on my arm," said Eva, 35. In summer, she feels strangers staring and has considered reconstructive surgery, but "on black skin, it's complicated". "It's been 10 years, it's part of me," said the Parisian who did not give her second name, publicly sharing her story for the first time. To rebuild their lives, some survivors and families of victims have found solace in writing, speaking out about their experiences and forging bonds with others who understand what they've endured."

Coordinated jihadist attacks in Paris on November 13, 2015 killed 130 people and wounded hundreds at the Bataclan, cafes, restaurants and the Stade de France. Survivors sustained catastrophic physical injuries including amputations, loss of mobility and hearing damage, and carry visible scars. Many experience ongoing psychological trauma, dread on anniversaries, and disrupted sleep. Some survivors and families have sought healing through writing, public testimony and mutual support networks. Daily routines and simple activities remain altered by lasting fears and physical limitations. Some survivors use prostheses and adapt social habits while confronting stigma and reconstructive challenges.

Read at www.thelocal.fr