Pakistanis with Disability Suffering the Most

It's estimated that 5-10% of the Pakistani population has a disability.  This number is likely higher in reality.  From my own visits to Pakistan, I can tell you that individuals with disability are often the silent members among families.  Limited by mobility, few are able to even step foot outside their homes. 

In a country where around 38 million people live below the poverty line, the burden on those families coping with disability is extreme, particularly when their means of living have been washed away by flooding.  Humanitarian aid has rushed to help the flood victims but the focus has remained mostly on the general needs of normal people - such as food, shelter, clean water and medical. 

The needs of disabled people have been last on the list of priorities, say aid workers.  The disabled can only sit and pray that one of their family members will be able to get some food and share it with them.

'The number of disabled people hit by the floods is so huge, but no one has focused on their needs,' says Asim Zafar, the founder of charity Sayya Association of Persons with Disability (visit www.saayaassociation.com for more information).

"Various forms of disabilities have various forms of needs and consequently various forms of care.  Almost everyone, whether international aid organisations or local charities, their focus is normal people. There is a sort of discrimination towards disabled people," Zafar adds.

Wheelchair-bound, Zafar is a living testament to Saaya Association's vision, the 'voice of positive ability'.  He recently visited Tangi, Pakistan to distribute wheelchairs, canes, portable commodes, urine bags, clothes and other essential relief aid.

'The biggest problem for most flood-affected disabled people is that their mobility is further decreased at the relief camps,' he continues.  "They sit in the scorching heat or intense cold till someone comes to their aid and moves them to some shelter" Zafar says.

Zakia is one of dozens to have benefited from aid from Zafar's organisation.  "I was totally helpless, completely depending on my family members,' she says. 'But with this wheel chair I have got a new life. Now I can go around to take care of my own needs, see people and make friends."

Imagine how helpless you would feel if you couldn't move without the help of someone else......

Lend a hand!

Chinese Rescue Team Returns from Pakistan

Today, a 66-member Chinese rescue and relief team sent to provide immediate assistance to flood ravaged Pakistan returned to China.  China sent two rescue and relief missions to flood-afflicted Pakistan since the end of July when floods began taking their toll, said officials from China Southern Airlines Company Limited, which transported the team.  Among the 66 members were medical workers, experts from the China Earthquake Administration, rescue soldiers as well as journalists.

In response to the worst flooding in Pakistan's recent history, China's help included monetary assistance, urgently needed relief goods delivered directly to affected areas, a convoy of 101 trucks to the northern parts of Pakistan, two rescue and relief missions for providing medical relief to the victims, four military helicopters for carrying out rescue missions and an additional 200 million U.S. dollars for post-disaster reconstruction besides the previous 320 million yuan (47 million U.S. dollars) worth of humanitarian supplies.

Despite being effected by landslides, China has served as an important ally, that is ready to help whenever Pakistan needs it.  For this humble gesture, Pakistan and the world at large sends a special thanks to the Chinese rescue and relief team and the Chinese government.