On December 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, individuals with disabilities in Afghanistan urged authorities to address the challenges they face.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) marked the occasion by calling on the Islamic Emirate to recognize the essential role of persons with disabilities in the sustainable development of the country.
Razia, who visited the Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled to claim her rights, shared her story with TOLOnews. Disabled at the age of nine due to a shrapnel injury during internal conflicts, Razia described her ongoing struggles: “I currently have no fuel at home. Paying rent is a challenge. Twice, I took a taxi to come here. They paid my allowance for the first three months, but the other three months haven’t been paid yet.”
Another individual, Allah Mohammad, emphasized the need for increased support: “Our demand is for more support for people with disabilities. Their salaries should be increased because they are too low. We get only 2,000 afghani per month.”
In a statement, UNAMA highlighted the persistent barriers persons with disabilities in Afghanistan face in accessing education, employment, healthcare, and public participation. Women and girls with disabilities are particularly affected. UNAMA called for their inclusion in decision-making, policy development, and social leadership: “The UN in Afghanistan celebrates the resilience and leadership of persons with disabilities and calls on authorities, community-based organizations, and donors to support and encourage their participation in the sustainable development of Afghanistan.”
The European Union in Afghanistan reaffirmed its commitment to supporting persons with disabilities, acknowledging the significant obstacles they face in accessing essential healthcare and services: “On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the European Union reiterates its continuous support for persons with disabilities in Afghanistan, who face significant obstacles in accessing healthcare and essential services,” the EU said.
The Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled announced that nine months of allowances had been paid to 160,000 persons with disabilities this year, with the remaining individuals to receive payments soon.
Faisal Khamoosh, spokesperson for the Ministry, revealed that approximately 11,000 individuals were removed from the disability list due to non-compliance with regulations or errors in documentation: “Approximately 11,000 individuals were excluded from the list because they did not align with our regulations or due to errors in their documentation or actual status,” he said.
The chief physician of the Rehabilitation Hospital for Persons with Disabilities, Abdul Hadi Siddiqi, announced plans to expand services to regional zones across Afghanistan: “We plan to extend our activities to the provinces. Rehabilitation hospital branches should at least be available at the regional level.”Abdul Hadi Siddiqi told TOLOnews:
According to the Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled, there are 189,635 persons with disabilities across Afghanistan.