Handicap International experience in Afghanistan - CBM

war survivors, who as a consequence, feel socially well integrated and have high visibility. Benefiting from anumber of organisations and DPOs working with the physically disabled, they have a general feeling of havingprospects both for work and social life. These perspectives are not easily shared by the other categories: asa result 10.0% of those disabled by other causes declare they believe their situation will be worse. Amongpeople who think the situation will be worse, many cannot give a reason for their pessimism.In 2005, when asked, a majority of non-disabled Afghans believed that their situation would improve overthe next five years for a range of reasons mainly related to the general situation, more than their private life.46.1% of them believe they will have more money (28.0%), benefit from better security (20.1%), bettereconomic situation (12.0%), better education system (10.4%), and health services (only 3.6% though). Inaddition, a certain proportion also believed that their own situation would improve because they would earnmore money (27.8%), or because they will own property (10.4%). Acquiring a piece of land to build a houseand/or do farming is essential for youngsters to settle down. In 2005, very few were pessimistic, believingthat violence would resume, for instance (1.1%). 4.8% did not know what the situation would be like. Maybethe same question today would obtain different answers…Figure 56: Distribution of Persons with Disability and Non-Disabled According toReasons Why they Believe the Future Looks Worse12• Persons with Disability• Non-Disabled1086420LessMoneyWill Not BeAliveWill BeAloneWorseHealthLack ofEducationInsecurity/ViolenceWorseEconomicSituationOtherReasonHowever, persons with disability did show optimism regarding the improvement of health services, a majorfactor of well being in the future.For persons with disability, the perception of the future was more pessimistic in 2005. In addition, thereasons given were very different. One major preoccupation of 15.0% of the persons with disability was thattheir health situation would worsen or even that they would not be alive anymore. They also are more oftenconcerned about the economic situation (6.2%). 10.0% of persons with disability also have no idea of whatthere future might be. Persons with disability still have difficulty in Afghanistan in picturing themselves inthe future.Don’tKnowInclusion is amajor factor tolook at whenformulatingrecommendationsfor stakeholdersactive in thedisability field.Today, Afghanistandoes not yethave disabilitypublic policiesthat expresscommitmentsto equaliseopportunitiesfor persons withdisabilitySocial Participation and Future Prospects71