Uruzgan: A woebegone widow desires death

TIRINKOT (Pajhwok): Gul Pari, an impoverished mother and sole guardian of four physically-challenged children, is faced with severe economic woes.

The 70-year-old woman from central Uruzgan province says she no longer has the strength to care for them. With frustration writ large on her visage, she is longing for death.

Hailing from the Anarjoy locality of Tirinkot, the provincial capital, she lost her husband years ago. Now she is the only caretaker of her four disabled children.

Speaking to Pajhwok Afghan News, she said: “All of my children, one daughter and three sons, are disabled. One of my sons is blind, while the three other children are paralysed. They are between 25 and 34. I have no one to help me take care of them.”

Taking care of the children was already a heavy burden, she noted, saying finding them food was an even greater challenge. The dire situation has left her utterly hopeless.

With her eyes welling up, she sobbed: “What can I do? I wish to die to get rid of this ordeal, but death doesn’t come to me.”

Every morning, Gul Pari leaves her home in search of alms and assistance. But most of the time, she returns empty-handed.

“I’m carrying the burden of life alone and have no one to help me. Supporting the grown-up children is becoming harder with each passing day.

“I am an elderly woman now, and no longer have the strength to lift and move them. I have to ask my neighbours for help,” she explained.

When no one is available for help, her children are forced to crawl out of and back into their room, scratching their skin and suffering abrasions.

She pointed out three of her children were registered with the Department of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs and received small amounts of financial aid.

The old woman complained the support was insufficient to cover even their basic needs and her family required a lot more.

Gul Pari’s eldest son, Mohammad Ibrahim, who is blind, said their life was full of privations, as they were entirely reliant on help from others. When they don’t receive assistance, they have no choice but to sit and pray for relief.

“My biggest dream is to see my family members and live like normal people. If I weren’t disabled, I would have taken responsibility for my family after my father’s death.

“Alas, I am helpless and completely dependent on others. If no one helps us, I can’t even meet my basic needs,” he commented.

One of their neighbours, Raz Mohammad, described their situation as heartbreaking.

“There are five people in this household, and four of them are disabled and completely dependent on others,” he confirmed.

He added: “The villagers occasionally help them with food and other necessities, but their condition is very concerning, and they need consistent support.”

Meanwhile, local officials insisted all disabled individuals in the province received their stipends in time.

Director of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs Abdul Qahir Anas told Pajhwok three members of Gul Pari’s family were registered with his department.

Around 300 paralysed people are registered with the department, and any assistance provided by the ministry is distributed to them.

“Including these 300 handicapped individuals, around 4,000 disabled people are registered with our department,” he said.

He also assured they were working to attract aid organisations to provide assistance to the families of martyrs and disabled people.

He recalled some time ago, they had provided wheelchairs to three members of Gul Pari’s family and other paralysed individuals.

kk/mud