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......

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