IN DIRE NEED: A LOOK INSIDE THE MINISTRY OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 001547 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL AF PHUM SUBJECT: IN DIRE NEED: A LOOK INSIDE THE MINISTRY OF MARTYRS AND DISABLED ¶1. On June 14 Deputy Minister for Martyrs and Disabled Suraya Paikan told polcouns her Ministry lacks resources to adequately serve Afghanistan's approximately 800,000 disabled people. Priorities for the Ministry include conducting a survey of disabled Afghans, staffing and equipping the four existing disabled persons resource centers, establishing new resource centers, and harnessing the political power of disabled Afghans to support the government rather than become prey for insurgent recruiters. Paikan said that neither the rest of the Afghan government nor the international community pays enough attention to her constituents and urged our financial and political assistance. She also drafted a letter to Secretary Clinton further outlining her concerns (follows). The Disabled Community: Struggling to Survive -------------- ¶2. Paikan estimated there were 800 thousand disabled Afghans, many of whom were injured during the country's 30 years of war. Many are homeless and most are desperately poor. As many employers will not consider hiring disabled people, many send their children to sell small items or beg in the street. The government pays registered disabled people roughly twelve dollars a month. It is an embarrassment, Paikan said, that our government dispenses this low a sum to people who were injured fighting for their country. ¶3. Many of the disabled belong to one of 30 unions headed by former warlords and commanders. Paikan said when she started working with the community approximately 11 months ago, the majority were anti-government and easy targets for insurgent recruiters, who were known to use disabled people to carry out suicide missions. Paikan has gained people's trust by not ever making promises, because she knows she cannot deliver, and by speaking up to support rights for the disabled. She emphasized that even the slightest government support could make a huge difference in where these economically poor but potentially politically powerful people place their support. ¶4. Polcouns asked Paikan about the June 13 protest of a group of disabled people in Kabul near the Embassy. Paikan said the leader of one of the 30 unions had informed her of the group's plans to speak out against the many barriers and blockades in the city. The union members told Paikan they were angry the barriers lessened their already decreased mobility. Priorities: Connecting Disabled People with Employers; Staffing and Equipping Resource Centers -------------- ¶5. Paikan identified her priorities as follows: first she would like to undertake a survey of the disabled community and enter basic demographic information, work history, and vocational capacity into a database. This database would be used to connect employers with disabled job-seeking Afghans and as a resource for government planning and international donors. Second she asked for financial assistance to staff and equip the four existing resource centers for disabled people. The centers are currently just empty buildings. She is seeking resources to populate the centers with occupational therapists, vocational counselors, and rehabilitative equipment. Paikan also requested funds for building, staffing, and equipping new resource centers. Comment -------------- ¶6. Embassy's political-military section transmitted to Washington a funding proposal "Strategic Support of Disabilities Sector to Reduce Recruitment of Disabled to Suicide Bombing Missions," requesting funding for the Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled. The request would fund a handicapped accessible office, a small shelter, a resource center, and a microfinance support center. We would like to re-voice our support for that proposal. The Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled is in a dismal state of repair. Many disabled people that come to see Deputy Minister Paikan to inquire about services must navigate three staircases on crutches or be carried by relatives. We will also continue to coordinate assistance efforts with other partners such as the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC),which both care for and employ disabled Afghans. BEGIN TEXT: Her Excellency Mrs. Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State of the United States of America: First of all I would like to congratulate you and President KABUL 00001547 002 OF 002 Barack Obama on the spirit of democracy that permeated the elections in the United States of America. It was inspiring to people all over the world. We are writing this letter on behalf of the people who have devoted themselves to providing us with independence and humanitarian freedom as we work to establish a democracy with a strong civil society component and growth opportunities. Why did we choose to write to you? First you are a woman, second you are a mother, and third you are a clever, patient, and sensitive politician. In your trip to Afghanistan you gave a kind speech that inspired us to want to tell you our problems directly. In the first stage of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, your government gave hope to Afghans with disabilities by highlighting the rights of Americans with disabilities. We are disappointed, however, that we have not gotten as far as we would like due to a lack of facilities and assets to support Afghans with disabilities the way they deserve to be supported after so many years of war. We continue to lack rehabilitation centers and shelters for the homeless disabled. A lack of inclusive education and social support has resulted in some disabled people having to beg for money, while others have been driven to narcotics addiction. We would like for you to push the U.S. to pay more attention to persons with disabilities and the families of martyrs in Afghanistan. Your support will strengthen the programs in Afghanistan, which could follow the American lead and become an example of strong advocacy programs and a defender of the rights of disabled people in the region. We would also like you to encourage other countries to support the most vulnerable groups in Afghanistan. We hope that one day, we will no longer have to witness the trials of the disabled to overcome the challenges of society long after they have overcome their own handicaps. Sincerely Yours, On behalf of Afghans with disabilities, Suraya Paikan Deputy Minister for Martyrs and Disabled Affairs of the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled END TEXT EIKENBERRY