KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in western Herat province report that Taliban authorities have ceased the operations of dozens of associations that were supporting individuals with disabilities.
Speaking with KabulNow today, the sources said that the Taliban’s Directorate of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs in the province recently ceased the operations of these associations.
Officials from some of these associations told KabulNow reporter that they were operating legally, providing capacity-building support and rehabilitation for people with disabilities.
According to them, there were at least 40 such associations across Herat province during the republic government. However, since the Taliban takeover, only 10 remain active.
They are urging the Taliban authorities to reconsider their decision and allow them to continue helping disabled individuals.
The reason behind the Taliban’s decision remains unclear, as the regime has not yet commented on the matter.
Afghanistan is among the countries with the highest number of disabled individuals, due to decades of conflict, natural disasters, and traffic accidents that continue to cause casualties and leave people disabled.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported last year that approximately 2.4 million people, including women and children, are living with disabilities in Afghanistan.
The UN agency expressed concern about the dire situation of disabled individuals, noting that they are disproportionately affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country.
