Balkh disabled people urge global fraternity to prioritize them

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): A number of physically-challenged people held a gathering in northern Balkh province to ask the international community, especially the World Food Programme, to assist them.

One of the participants, Abdul Wali Haqju, who holds a bachelor’s degree and is disabled in both legs and eyes, asked the international community to help him and other people like him.

He specifically asked the WFP to keep assisting Afghan disabled people because they could not work to earn a living.

He claimed the disabled people was paid no attention in the distribution of aid in Balkh province.

Another disabled person named Muhammad Akram also said that disabled people deserved help.

He also said the government and aid agencies, especially the international community, should give the disabled people priority in the distribution of aid.

Syed Mohammad Yazdanparast, a member of the Balkh Disabled Network, also claimed the aid from the international community did not reach them.

He claimed to have repeatedly submitted his complaint to various sources, but his demands went unnoticed.

On the other hand, the Department of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs says they give monthly salary to all the disabled and this process is going on normally.

Maulvi Jan Mohammad Hikmat, Director of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs of Balkh, said his department was paying salaries to the disabled as usual and was striving to register all the disabled and the families of martyrs who had not received their rights.

He also asked businessmen, charities and the international community to help the disabled and the families of martyrs because they were the most needy segment of the society.

sa/ma

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