KABUL, April 27 (Xinhua) -- In the dim corridors of a crowded Kabul hospital, 56-year-old Zakaria sits quietly, waiting for his routine medical check-up. Years after a landmine explosion took his leg, the hospital visits address only part of his struggle; the deeper challenge is sustaining a family of 16 in a fragile economic reality.
"The land was full of mines, and one of them exploded beneath me," Zakaria said. The blast not only left him permanently disabled but also altered the course of his life. Once the primary breadwinner, he now navigates a daily struggle shaped by physical limitations and financial hardship.
"I can do hand-based work like tailoring, but I cannot do work that requires standing or walking," he said. "I ask the government to create job opportunities for us so we can earn a living for our families with our own efforts."
Zakaria's story reflects a broader reality across Afghanistan, where decades of conflict and widespread landmine contamination have left a significant number of people living with disabilities. For many, life hangs between dependence on aid and the desire for independence.
Officials say efforts are underway to support persons with disabilities through structured national programs.
"We provide a separate monthly allowance for persons with disabilities, including civilian, military and congenital cases," said Mufti Faisal Khamosh, director of public relations and communications at the Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs.
According to Khamosh, assistance ranges from 2,000 to 20,000 afghanis (about 31 to 316 U.S. dollars) per month, depending on the severity of disability. Over the past year, some 12.6 billion afghanis have been distributed to persons with disabilities and orphans.
Support extends beyond cash payments. Authorities, in coordination with 71 governmental and non-governmental organizations, have delivered food supplies, wheelchairs, and access to education and vocational training programs.
"We are working to register all persons with disabilities and orphans electronically," Khamosh said. "Each family will receive a card to directly benefit from services. At the same time, we are trying to create job opportunities, though one of the main challenges remains the high number of beneficiaries and limited budget."
For many, however, the gap between assistance and self-reliance remains wide. While aid helps families survive, it does not fulfill their deeper aspiration: independence.
"There should be job opportunities so we can earn by our own hands and not remain dependent on aid organizations," Zakaria said. "We are willing to do even the hardest work to avoid dependency."
"Some people bother us, while others show sympathy," he said, describing a mixed social environment. Yet access to healthcare, often supported by humanitarian organizations, provides a measure of stability.
For 45-year-old Asif, the consequences of war began in childhood. Mistaking a landmine for a toy, he triggered an explosion that cost him a leg and a hand.
Years later, economic hardship forced him to leave Kabul and move with his family to a rural village. He had big dreams of building a good life, educating his children, letting them learn English and benefit from opportunities in the city.
Nasratullah, a 32-year-old father of five, from eastern Parwan province, faces a similar struggle. After losing his job due to staff reductions, he has been unemployed for nearly a year.
"Life is very exhausting for us, especially for people like us who are disabled," he said. "Our economic situation is at zero."
Nasratullah believes solutions must go beyond short-term aid.
"A loan system should be created for those who cannot do physical labor, so they can manage their lives independently," he said, adding that he is ready to work in administrative or educational roles.
"I am the head of my family and must support them."
The United Nations has noted that decades of conflict and widespread landmine contamination have significantly increased the number of people living with disabilities in Afghanistan. At the same time, economic pressures continue to limit access to sustainable livelihoods.
For Zakaria, Nasratullah, Asif, and countless others, assistance remains a lifeline but not a solution. What they seek is not only survival, but dignity: the opportunity to work, to contribute, and to build a future through their own efforts. ■
