Handicap International experience in Afghanistan - CBM

MessageAfghanistan is a country that has faced more than twenty four years of war and two greatest armed aggressors: the Soviet invasionand international terrorism. During these trying periods, the Afghans have greatly suffered, witnessing mass murders, violence, forcedmigrations etc. One of the main consequences of these events has been disability of a large number of Afghans including children,women and men who have lost their limbs during the wars, by landmines and UXOs. While hundreds of thousands of Afghans weredisabled by war and landmines, many more have acquired impairments from birth, inadequate healthcare, congenital disabilities,accidents or malnutrition and preventable diseases such as polio. Large numbers of people who were psychologically traumatisedreceive minimal services, if any. In addition, there are many people with learning disabilities, mental impairments and multipledisabilities that are yet to receive adequate attention from the international community, the Government of Afghanistan and disabilityorganisations working in Afghanistan.Unfortunately, in addition to these serious problems, lack of healthcare, low economic levels, lack of awareness about disabilities insociety and inadequate education have isolated persons with disabilities and their families even more.Advocating for the rights of persons with disability is one of the top priorities of the Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled and SocialAffairs. The current situation and lack of possibilities in the country for persons with disabilities calls for urgent support of the IslamicRepublic of Afghanistan and from the national and international community and organisations. Despite the initiatives already takenin Afghanistan, a lot has still to be done to fully integrate persons with disability into the Afghan society.Because of lack of consolidated national data, there was no real accuracy of disability figures on which action could be taken. Therefore,the National Disability Survey in Afghanistan (NDSA) became a priority and was launched in September 2004 at the request of theMinistry of Martyrs and Disabled and Social Affairs. Information regarding the Afghan population with disabilities was essential toevaluate the extent of needs to be addressed. Understanding livelihood, social participation, coping strategies and assessing theservices that were effectively available to persons with disability and how they access these is useful knowledge for the Ministry ofMartyrs and Disabled and Social Affairs, as well as other partners to define a National Disability Strategy. Such a strategy, based onscientific knowledge, aims at designing and coordinating effective public policies in a context of limited resources.I am extremely pleased that during the crucial time and with landmines affecting Afghans every day this survey is now scientificallyand technically completed. I am confident that the results and findings presented here will be of great value to all decision-makersworking in the field of disability in order to define programmes and policies that are relevant, efficient and sustainable.Once again I would like to thank Handicap International who has carried out this study and I wish more success for HI. The Afghannation will never forget the support of anybody in this critical situation in Afghanistan.Hajji Sayed Mohammad Hadi “Hadi”Deputy Minister of Martyrs and Disabled and Social Affairsx National Disability Survey in Afghanistan 2005