By Faris al-Rifai; Translation by Yusra Ahmed
(Zaman Al Wasl)- The office of Child and Motherhood Care in rebel-held city of al-Rastan near Homs, in its third anniversary launches a new initiative to help vulnerable people who have been facing serious difficulties due to the 4-year-old conflict.
In her talk to Zaman al-Wasl, Maha Ayoub, director of office, said at the end of 2014, number of registered disabled reached 1250, almost 30 one monthly, and 1450 children.
“The office is the first of its kind in Syria after revolution to be interested in disabled and their needs, from mobile chairs, crutches, treatment and medications” the Director mentioned.
Ayoub explained that idea of the center was initiated by women and youth in al-Rastan to help children and disabled as they were the most vulnerable groups in war and the exceptional circumstances the country has gone through.
“The center managed to attract big number of disabled and children as the average number of registered disabled reached to 65 monthly toward the end of 2014, which increased the workload and needs such mobile chairs, walkers, nappies, air mattresses, clothes, cleansers and all other needs of disabled, ” the director detailed.
In regard to disability kinds, Ayoub pointed out that different kinds were registered in the centre, like physical and mental disability of congenital or acquired causes, besides lost of hearing or blindness, paralysis, cerebral palsy and amputation. The director mentioned the huge effort they do to secure children’s milk and they fairly distributed it to infants using their vaccination cards as a record.
“We also
interested in all nutrient for older children and their growth and development”
added.
Ayoub mentioned that they face huge obstacles to provide their services, as there is no secure source of milk powder and medication, moreover, the centre does not have a car for transportation and delivery and no designated computer. “But despite all that we are determined to go ahead and help children and disabled for al-Rastan’s people and displaced reside in the city.”
The director told Zaman al-Wasl about the future plans for the centre: “we plan to secure milk to more children, besides food, nappies, medication and clothes, adding to education courses for mothers, and empowering disabled by teaching them some skills and funding them with money to practice their lives as normal as possible.”
By mid 2014, UNHCR has estimated that 10.8 million Syrians were affected from the war, including 6.5 million internally displaced.
Syria's conflict, now in its fourth year, has killed more than 220,000 people and caused millions to flee.
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