2012/07/26
A team from Hammurabi Human Rights Organization have conducted a number of inspection tours in the boroughs of Baghdad and the towns of the Nineveh plain, such as: Al_Hamdaniya, Tall_Kayf, Alqosh, Telskuf, Bartella, Karemlesh, Batnay … etc. visiting and examining the conditions of the handicapped suffering from physical, mental or psychological disability. Hammurabi’s program to support them included youths between the ages of 3 to 18 years old, delivering power-wheelchairs, normal wheelchairs, medicine and other medical necessities to those who were subject to violence, terrorism and traffic accidents, who have been registered at HHRO.
In cooperation with Christians Solidarity International (CSI), HHRO concluded the program by July 2012, with 80 Iraqi beneficiaries who are either amputees or suffering from physical disabilities due to bombings, acts of violence or traffic accidents or those who are paralyzed, moreover, others suffering from mental or psychological disabilities received cash to help them pay for their medicine.
Dr. Samia Youssif - HHRO board member - provided: “this program revealed a strange feeling in me, where it revealed the amount of suffering which few Iraqi families are subject to”, adding ”I met a bunch of families with more than one handicapped, other even had up to 3 or 4, and those represent a lot of pressure on their parents, financially and socially”, “helping them could alleviate this pressure to improve their health, living and psychological conditions”.
Robert Elia - HHRO media officer - provided: “the government with civil society organizations should look into the necessary mechanisms to alleviate the suffering of Iraqi handicapped and compensate them”, adding “that could take place through establishing factories and workshops for prosthetics and wheelchairs, to be provided with proper prices, and establishing a center to provide training to develop their abilities, in addition to courses and institutions to provide care for them”.
Finally, Basim - an IDP and a father of 4 handicapped boys who were victims of American shelling during the occupation – said: “I can’t describe what HHRO offered for my family and children”, adding “Now, my children can move around and head to school using those chairs given to us by HHRO”, praying for the best for the organization.
