Imam Hussain: Winning morsel for my family is like Eid

TALOQAN (Pajhwok): Imam Hussain, a 20-year-old man, was paralyzed on both his legs as a result of an airstrike by foreign forces in northern Takhar province when he was just months old.

Sitting in a wheelchair in 40 degree Celsius midday heat in Taloqan city, Hussian said Eid has no meaning for him as his only concern is to find bread for his family.

Pajhwok Afghan News reporter Mohammad Yasin Joya interviewed this disabled and weak man who said he was a victim of the past war.

The people in the city are busy making preparations for Eid while Imam Hussain was sitting calm in his wheelchair.

Hussain said he was caught in a heavy fighting in Namak Aab district almost 20 years ago when he was a child. Some planes dropped bombs and shrapnel hit his waist.

Hussain said his parents have passed away, he is single and he lives with his seven member family of brothers and sisters.

Hussain added: “I am a victim of war. Half of my body below waist is paralyzed. My worst economic situation did not allow me to get treatment”.

Eid brings no joys to Imam Hussain who struggles with summer heat and winder cold in Taloqan streets. Life is not enjoyable for him due to his disability and bad economic situation.

He said: “My only wish is to be able to feed my seven-member family and see permanent peace in the country”.

Hussain complained about his worst economic situation and said he had knocked several times at the gates of governmental departments and humanitarian organizations for help, but only offered excuses.

This disabled man said: “When I became upset with all things, I started learning watch repairing to get an income to feed my family”.

Paralyzed on both legs, Hussain sits in a wheelchair and works as watches repairman in Taloqan city to win some bread for his family.

According to Hussain, he daily makes an income of 100 up to 150 afs, but it is only enough to partially cover his daily needs.

The war victim asked the government to pay attention to his tough economic situation.

He claimed the distribution process of international community’s aid was not transparent and judicious as powerful individuals still used their power to snatch the right of poor and needy people.

“Eidul Adha is around the corner, I still have not bought new cloths for my family, no chance for Qurbani, Eid is not enjoyable for me and I do not wait for Eid, I was deprived of Eid joys for 20 years as a result of the aimless wars”.

Imam Hussain lives in a rented house in Taloqan city. He said the wars had tens of thousands of victims including youth and children and life was meaningless for such victims.

He said his only wish was permanent peace in the country and his ability to support his family.

Maulavi Ihsanullah, the head of provincial Martyrs and Disabled Affairs Department, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the government was trying to pay monthly stipends to all such victims.

aw/ma