KABUL (SW) – Amid the harsh winter, pensioners are faced with added woes to make ends meet across Afghanistan.
Abdullah Jameel, one of the retirees, told Salam Watandar that after decades of service in the government, he retired four years ago and it has been two years since he lost his sight and is now bedridden after suffering a stroke.
He spends his days waiting for his pension until the night; a tiny amount of salary that can provide the medicine he needs and a bit of food for his family.
“I got sick and had a stroke. I have been ill for the third year, I spend difficult days in winter. Now, my eyes are blind and I don’t have money to go and get medicine.”
In the past two years, retirees have repeatedly gone to the pension fund hoping to receive their salaries, but they have returned home empty-handed every time.
Abdul Fattah, another citizen who is the head of his family of eight and retired in the last months of the previous government, complained about the unemployment and poverty that plagued him in the last two years.
“I wish we had another job in these 35 years. All officers wished to serve and retire.”
There are many citizens with disabilities who need support to continue living.
Masihullah, a resident of Paktia who was has lost both his legs nine years ago due to the war, said that although his father and sister also suffer from disabilities, but they have not received any help from the government for more than a year now.
Masihullah and a number of other people with disabilities, when they lose hope of being supported by the government, they formed a council to demand rights for people with disabilities. But, so far no institution has taken care of their needs.
According to him, a number of people with disabilities, sometimes got crushed under the pressure of life, sell their wheelchairs and other belongings to earn a few afghanis to continue.
Masihullah, who has a bachelor’s degree in computer science, said that among people with disabilities, there are capacities in different sectors that should be utilised.
Mutiullah Atai, another citizen who suffers from disability, said the biggest problem of disabled people is the financial problem. “Many of us are highly educated, but we don’t have a job.”
It should be noted that the process of distributing homes to people with disabilities had already been started by the government, but according to people with disabilities, many of them, especially those who live in remote areas, have not yet received the units.
ENDS
