MOHAMMAD'S STORY

One bright winter’s morning Mohammad Anwar was on the way to his office at the Afghan Ministry of Mines and Industries when darkness fell. The air was thick with dust and smoke and the only sound was of people screaming.

The next thing Mohammad remembers is waking up in the Wazir Akbar Khan hospital. He had lost both his legs in a rocket attack.

Mohammad was made redundant soon after and has not worked since. His wife works washing clothes and his daughters stay at home in order to take care of him.

“I am now nothing but a hopeless, helpless member of my family. I can barely help myself. Some days we cannot even afford bread and we eat the leftovers from the previous days,” says Mohammad.

The family now live in a dilapidated government building with other poor and displaced people. They have been there for nine years.

Mohammad says that since most humanitarian organisations have stopped their emergency efforts in the country and are moving towards the rehabilitation phase, food aid has drastically declined.

“We thank Allah (swt) who helps us through remaining aid organisations such as Islamic Relief. During Ramadhan, Qurbani and other occasions they remember us and provide us with a package of food; a piece of meat that we could not afford to buy.

I really am thankful to Islamic Relief and the donors. May Allah (swt) grant them all their wishes,” Mohammad says.