Marking International Day of Persons With Disabilities, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Saturday said more than 9,500 disabled people are registered annually in Afghanistan, of whom 1,500 are left disabled through war.

“Out of the 9,500 disabled people that are registered annually, more than 1,500 of them have been disabled due to war,” said Najmuddin Helal, head of the orthopedic center of the ICRC.

Jamila Afghan, deputy minister of labor, social affairs, martyrs and disabled (MoLSAMD) said they are worried about the lack of public facilities for people with disabilities.

CEO Abdullah Abdullah also said government has paid little attention to disabled people.

“I promise you that I will advise government departments in different levels to provide you the necessary aid,” Abdullah said.

Qahar, a disabled man from Parwan province said he lost his leg during the Taliban regime. He is currently in Kabul, at the ICRC, where he is hoping to have a prosthetic leg fitted. 

“Government sees a person with a disability as an irresponsible person,” he said.

Statistics of the MoLSAMD show that since 2005 nearly 2.7 percent of disabled people have severe disabilities and that 70 percent of them live in rural areas. 

Statistics also indicate that 90 percent of children with disabilities are deprived of schooling.