Development and Ability Organization(DAO), on behalf of the Afghan people with disabilities, would like to express sincere thanks and extend gratitude to UNICEF for providing funding and technical advice thus enabling DAO and the Afghan people with disabilities in the city of Kabul to express their thoughts and assisting in the advocacy of their problems.

Without UNICEF’s contribution the survey would have been impossible, therefore, once again we present our thanks to UNICEF for their contribution toward the success of this vital project.

Omara Khan
Director
Development and Ability Organization(DAO)

This survey was conducted to assess the problems of barrier free access for people with disabilities in the city of Kabul. This type of survey is needed throughout Afghanistan as the reconstruction process begins so that barriers to access for should be identified and strictly considered by rehabilitation and reconstruction designers, donor agencies and their implementing partners. This will ensure that Persons with disability have access to public buildings, recreational parks, schools, and other public spaces.

The main objective of this research project was to identify the major difficulties of access for persons with disability within public services, public spaces like ministries, recreational parks, hospitals/clinics and schools. Questions regarding rights for people with disability and their expectations from the government, UN agencies, NGOs, community and family were also included in the survey.

It is hoped that by providing this kind of information to government, UN agencies, and NGOs proper access for persons with disability in all buildings under renovation or newly constructed will be barrier free. The information collected through this research will be useful for the Afghan government and assistance organizations sensitizing them to the needs of persons with disability and influence their future development and reconstruction plans for Afghanistan.

Based on discussions with People with Disabilities and various disability sector informants, a comprehensive questionnaire was prepared to survey information with regards to disability and covering personal information, economical status, accessibility problems and its solutions, rights of disabled persons, expectations and messages from disabled Afghans to the government, UN and NGOs.

The questionnaire was field-tested to ensure questions were understood and easily communicated. Interviews were conducted with 350 people with disability in Kabul City. Answers were recorded on individual survey forms from which the data was input into an excel spreadsheet for analysis. The analysis of data included issues of rights, access and economic factors and was further broken down by age and gender.

Rights and services for Persons with Disabilities:

Only 5% of all respondents (53% children and 47% Adults) were satisfied about the financial incapability of the Afghan government.  Reasons included government instability, newly established government and insufficient government financial resources for implementation of the activities related to Afghans with disability.  Related to the above, the following points elaborate the reasons given for dissatisfaction of services provided by government:

• Related to the above, respondents indicated that as the Government is not in a position economically to provide rehabilitation and medical services, financial assistance from international community for the reintegration and rehabilitation of the disabled segment of the Afghan community is needed.

Lack of financial resources has left the Afghan government with few options and limited plans for the social reintegration of persons with disabilities.

• Interviewees raised the issue that the government paid monthly incentives for people with disability was very low and did not meet their economic needs. People with disability complained that government authorities are not paying proper attention to the economic problems faced by Persons with disability and are not considering a raise in these monthly incentives.

• Some respondents were of the opinion that if the government provided an opportunity for free education for disabled persons and others this would be enough for the time being.

• Although most disabled people were not satisfied with medical services provided by the government, they said that what they received was free of charge.

• Most persons with disabilities were not happy or satisfied with the status given to them by the new constitution.  They felt that there is only a short paragraph about persons with disability and included them with people who are lost and, retired.

Among all those respondents interviewed a total of 2% didn’t provide the information concerning their own rights either they were children who did not know the answers or Adults who were not willing to answer because of lack of information or for some other unknown reasons.

Accessibility:

• 43% of the respondents having lower limb amputations, polio and people with hearing impairment stated that they have access to mosques.  People with hearing impairment complained that because of their impairment they do not know what the mullah is saying. 29% persons with disabilities having above knee amputations and paraplegics have no access at all to the mosques because stairs are too high and inaccessible approaches. Additionally people interviewed during prayer time at the mosques stated that during the summer and the rainy seasons they have various problems, can’t climb stairs and no accessible ways to get to the mosques.

• 28% of the respondents, mostly women and children, said the question was not applicable to them.

• 26% of the people interviewed having lower limb amputations have access to the sidewalks.  53% of the respondents stated that they have no access to the sidewalks due to over crowded and inaccessible conditions to use.

• 16% of the respondents have stated they have access to recreational parks while 38% have stated they did not have access to recreational parks.

• Only 22% of the respondents with lower limb amputations and those with mobility impairment stated that they have access to the public transport while 51% stated they had difficulty accessing public transport as they can not sit properly and there is no place for their wheelchairs.

• 27% of the respondents use bicycles as a means of transportation.  A small number of people with disability travel by walking within the city limits and another small portion use private vehicles.

• Schools are inaccessible for 19% of the disabled while among all those interviewed 11% children and 71% DAOlts were not the school aged.

• 20% of those interviewed including people with lower limb amputations and polio stated that they have access to the public buildings while 28% stated that they have no access to public buildings because of stairs and no proper access for their wheelchairs.

Economical Information:

The survey indicates that persons with disabilities are mainly involved in low-income jobs such as cleaners, carpentry, housewife, painter, wood seller, etc. There are a small number of disabled people working for the UN, NGOs, and Government or higher paying jobs in such as shop keeping or carpet making.

• 59% of men, 10% of women and 2% of boys had jobs before they became disabled.

• 33% of men, 16% of women and 27% of boys were jobless prior to their disabilities.

• 1% of the disabled had to leave their jobs because of their disability.

• 1% of the boys left their jobs for their admission to school.

• 45% of persons with disabilities have lost their jobs because of their disabilities.

• 1% of people with disability have lost their jobs due to the destruction of the industries in which they were working.

Final Message and comments from the respondents:

• Among the respondents, 3 persons called on persons with disability to unite and advocate for their due rights and assist in the reconstruction of their homeland.

• 15 respondents out of the 350 interviewed asked the government, NGOs and United Nations to assist them with vocational training and to continue their educations so they can obtain proper employment to support their families. Some of the respondents mentioned that if they may have lost a part of their bodies but they still have a brain and can work independently if they get the opportunity.

• Persons with disabilities including men, women, and children of both genders request Government, NGOs and United Nations help them become the productive members of their community by providing proper employment opportunities, education and vocational training. They wish that there were practical steps that would be taken in response to their proposals and demands for independent living instead of becoming dependents.
  
• 30 persons with disabilities asked his Excellency President Karzai, the Ministry of transport, Municipalities, social centers, UN and NGOs to consider transport services, provide shelters, proper medical treatment, and broadcast TV programs for people with disability.

A: Physical Observations Around Kabul City

A number of public spaces and buildings were visited within Kabul City and the following information was gathered:

Estiqlal High School

Estiqlal high school is located at the center of Kabul City and is one of the most modern schools in Afghanistan. In the past the construction of the school was contracted by a French company and was constructed when the Transitional Government of the Islamic State of Afghanistan took over. The major problem is the lack of access for wheelchairs except for the auditorium.

Based on observation most schools in Kabul city are not accessible for Persons with disability, especially for all those who use wheelchairs.

Haji Abdul Haq Square:

Haji Abdul Haq Square is located in the eastern part of Kabul city between new and old Microroyan. This is one of the busiest squares in the city. It has sidewalks but most are broken and not accessible for the wheelchair users. The sidewalks are hazardous and not suitable for any person including the non-disabled.  Fruit and drink sellers encroach on what sidewalk is accessible leaving little space for people with disabilities and making them inaccessible for wheelchair users.

Pul-e- Kheshti Mosque:

Pul-e- Kheshti Mosque is a famous and historical mosque in Kabul. A large number of Afghans gather for worship in this mosque especially during noon and evening prayers.  This mosque has no special access or place for disabled persons to make ablution or to enter into to the mosque with their wheelchairs.

Additionally the mosque does not have any suitable bathrooms for the wheelchair riders. The sidewalks are not accessible for the wheelchair users either.

Sarayee Shahzada

Sarayee Shahzada is the main money exchange market in Kabul and is located on the western side of Pul-e- Kheshti mosque. Sarayee Shahzada is also one of the busiest places in Kabul. The sidewalks close to the market are very over crowded and not accessible for the wheelchair users.

Humaira Soljoqi general Mosque:

This mosque is located in Guzergah. The sidewalks opposite the mosque are damaged making it impossible for the wheelchairs users to use them. The mosques itself has no proper place for ablution for disabled persons and because there are stairs wheelchair-users are unable to pray inside the mosque.

Microroyan Mosque:

This mosque has an accessible way for wheelchair users to enter but it has no a proper place for disabled persons to make their ablution.

Shah-e- Du Shamshera Mosque:

This mosque is located very close to the shrine of Shah-e- Du Shamshera wali. It is a very popular mosque in Kabul but it does not have any accessible ways for the wheelchair users. Wheelchair users usually offer their prayers outside the mosque.  In the summer when it is hot or when it is raining Persons with disability are deprived even the ability to pray outside the mosque.

A disabled man interviewed outside this mosque told us that he had requested the government make proper sidewalks and barrier free access to the mosque.

Deh-e- Afghanan underground:

This underground commuting way is the only one in Afghanistan. The underground passage is a safe and accessible way for all people except for those who use wheelchairs.

Ministry of Disabled and Martyrs:
 
The Ministry of Disabled and Martyrs is located in Old Mircroryan next to the Ministry of Public Works. This is a place where people with all type of disabilities come for assistance.  Only the first floor is for wheelchair users. All the sidewalks leading to the Ministry are damaged and not accessible for the wheelchair users.

Ministry of Justice:

The Ministry of Justice is located in Froshga area and has hundreds of visitors every day. The Ministry has a four-storey inaccessible building. There is no lift or ramps to any level.

Ministry of Communications:

This Ministry has the biggest and tallest building in our country having 18 floors. The Ministry has a lift but it is not currently functioning making it impossible for persons with disabilities to visit the building for the official or personal work.

Ministry of Finance:

The Ministry of finance is situated at the Pashtoonistan Square. Hundreds of people visit the Ministry every day. Currently the building can be accessed on only the first floor.

Ministry of information and culture:

The Ministry of Information and Culture is located in Deh-e-Afghanan area of Kabul. There is no lift for people with disability to access the Ministry.

Now Roz Recreaitonal Park.

It is located in Deh-e- Mazang area. The park is constructed by the embassy of Japan and UNDP. The sidewalks outside the park are damaged but inside the park they are in good condition and accessible.

Arayana Cinema.

It has a proper way for going back and forth for disabled persons including wheelchair access.

AWCC Office.

AWCC has an accessible office for all those wheelchair riders and other persons with disabilities.

Zoo.

Kabul zoo is located at Deh-e- Mazang area and it has a good paths and accessible ways for disabled.

 
In addition to the above the following ministries and public spaces were also visited and no accessibility was noted for disabled persons.

The Ministry of Public health, Centeral Post office, General Directorate of Libraries, Stomatologic Hospital, Spin Zar Hotel, Kabul University, Wazir Akbar Khan recreational park (has sidewalks but they are damaged and need reconstruction), Saadat Recreational Park, and other places.

ANNEX D: Resources

ICRC
NADWA
Kabul Paraplegic Center
CDAP/UNOPS
Kabul Orthopedic center
HI Community Based center for disabled
Disabled people in different location of Kabul