Poverty stricken Khadeja seeks support for survival

TALOQAN (Pajhwok): An elderly Khadeja wanders his disabled husband on three wheeler  in Taloqan City, the capital of northern Takhar province, begging for survival.

She asked the acting government and aid providing agencies to help her in addressing her problems.

It is a cold winter day in Takhar province, Khadija, whose husband had lost both legs as a result of the recent wars, was looking for a piece of bread to feed her children and her disabled husband during these cold nights, but getting a piece of bread is difficult for her.

Khadija hugged her smaller child, raids her disabled husband bicycle and wanders in the streets of Taloqan city from the early morning until evening to beg and avoid to starve in this cold weather.

“As a result of the recent wars, my husband, who was a common man got injured and disabled on both her legs.

I have to look after them, the weather is very cold and I have to endure all these difficulties to feed my five children, all of whom are girls, and a disabled husband,” she said.

Khadeja said she lived in a rent house in Taloqan and so far no organization provided them with financial support of aid.

She said the outcome of daily wandering in the muddy streets of Taloqan was only receiving few breads, which sometimes fills her family’s stomach and sometimes they sleep hungry.

She said she was tired of fighting and destruction in the country.

“I wish that I will never witness war and make any family miserable again. Because the war has not benefited the people except for the negative consequences,” she said.

Khadija, who is tired from the continuation of the miserable life, said, “I have reached old age, and after this, how and for how long will I be able to carry my disabled husband on a wheelchair from dawn to the evening on streets, and in this way, I will be able to support the family?”

Referring to the illness and deafness of her husband she said: “Continued poverty and illness of my husband has made my life darker. Sometimes I ask people for help by washing clothes for people, and most of the time by carrying my disabled and sick husband on the roads, knowing that this will not cure any of my pain. With the passing of each day the difficulties of living are bothering me that I am trying to get a piece of bread at this old age.”

She asked the government to support vulnerable families and provide them with all kind of support.

Khadeja’s husband Syed Ameerullah said: “War was the reason behind my disability. Now I have no option what to do in this harsh winter and unpleasant situation.”

He also asked government and aid providing agencies for support.

Takhar Work and Social Affairs Director Mullah Saifullah Mubarez said efforts were on to address the problems faced by disabled and less fortunate people. He added aid providing agencies cooperation will also be sought to address these issues.

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