----- Original Message -----
From: "Diana Yates" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 3:21 PM
Subject: Enquiry about the situation facing disabled people in Afghanistan
Hi,
I am a social work student working with a disabled asylum seeker from
Afghanistan. I am supporting his campaign for a fresh claim with the Home
Office. Aman Ali has been living in Sheffield for the last five years. His
claim for asylum in the UK was refused in 2004 despite the fact that all his
family were killed in Afghanistan and he fled because his life was in
danger.
Left with no legal means of earning and no housing he found building work to
support himself. While tiling he slipped off a roof, due to unsafe
scaffolding, he fell 20ft to the ground. He damaged 6 vertebrae and spent
over 6.5 months in the Northern General Hospital, Spinal Injuries Unit. He
was discharged in September 2007 in a wheelchair. Aman is working hard on
his recovery and is making excellent progress. However, because he has no
legal status he is not entitled to basic medical services such as
physiotherapy. He cannot stand or walk unaided.
Because of his impairment he has been housed and awarded national
assistance, a subsistence of £39 a week by the local authority.
Aman has made a fresh claim for asylum on human rights grounds.
I am emailing you to find out whether or not you have access to any
information about the situation facing disabled people, particularly those
with spinal injuries, living in Afghanistan. I am interested to know about
the living conditions for such individuals, especially those who have to
live outside of the main towns. I also want to know about what medical
equipment and support is available and what, if any, are the prospects of
employment for disabled people with spinal injuries living in Afghanistan.
I think the conditions are very poor and inferior to the kind of support for
independent living which Aman may be able to expect should he be accorded
refugee status in the UK, but I do not have much actual evidence for this
belief. If you have contacts with any individuals or organisations in
Afghanistan which either you or I could approach to obtain more concrete
evidence of the physical, environmental, social and economic conditions for
disabled people living in Afghanistan, please could you let me know. If you
have any suggestions for any other organisations or individuals which I
could approach for information, advice or guidance in this area, I would
also much appreciate it.
Any information you or others can provide, will then be sent to the Home
Office to strengthen Aman's campaign. Any information you could supply us
with would be really useful.
Thank you in advance for any help and information you can give me.
I look forward to hearing from you
Many Thanks
Diana Yates
(Social Work Student at New Perspectives)
New Perspectives
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Address: 1 Portland Court, Sheffield, S6 3EW
Tel: 0114 225 8676
Fax (by arrangement): 0114 225 8676
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