Disability of 3 sons forces mother to beg for survival

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): A mother in northeastern Kunduz province says her three sons were disabled while serving in the Afghan National Army (ANA) in the former government.

The mother, Malika, is currently living in a mud house in Kunduz city with her disabled sons, grandchildren and a mentally challenged husband.

She said her three sons had served in the previous government's ANA in Balkh, Herat and Kunduz provinces.

She said her one son was paralyzed in the leg, another paralyzed in the arm and a third lost his eyes during fighting with the Taliban under the previous administration.

"My husband has a mental problem and can't leave the house. None of my sons is working. We are a family of 12. I am the only one begging in the city to find food for my family,” she said.

The mother says her sons’ disability rights have not been paid by the government yet and she sold her belongings to buy food for her family.

She said that the previous government had promised her to provide her with an apartment but she was yet to receive it.

Malika said she was once displaced to capital Kabul due to conflicts, but she returned to Kunduz after some times.

“We were surveyed in Kabul, but no one so far assisted us and we are facing with serious problems,” she said.

Samiullah, son of Malika, told Pajhwok that he had served as an ANA soldier in Kunduz during the previous government.

"I lost one of my arms, I also have other problems in my body, I can't work, my mother is just begging in the city, we have a lot of problems, we are in dire need of help," he said.

The family called on the government and aid organizations to provide them with necessary assistance during the cold winter.

On the other hand, Mualvi Abdul WaliMohammadi, director of Kunduz refugee affairs, told Pajhwok that food and other essential items had been provided to 7,000 needy families in the province so far.

He said they were trying their best to help all needy families in the province.

There are hundreds of thousands of other families like Malika’s in Afghanistan who have lost their beloved ones or disabled in the conflict and currently face serious economic problems.

mds/ma