18 disabled Afghan children getting new life in Kolkata

Suffering from cerebral palsy, four-year-old Ahmadi Saifoora cannot walk. But thanks to the efforts of two charitable organisations, Saifoora and 17 other children from Afghanistan are now bracing for a new life.

Rehabilitation Centres for Children (RCFC), an Indian organisation working for children with orthopaedic deformity is providing free medical treatment, including surgeries and rehabilitation, of 18 Afghan children suffering from various forms of disabilities.

Coming mostly from impoverished backgrounds, the 18 children, between four and 13 years, reached Delhi from Kabul on December 6 and were brought to Kolkata on Tuesday.

Cultural and empowerment organisation for Afghans (CEOA), an Afghani non-government organisation, got in touch with RCFC to get the children medical treatment.

"Deformity and disability is one of the biggest problems in Afghanistan and lack of medical facility and poverty has only compounded the misery.

"All the children come from impoverished background and can never afford the medical expenses," CEOA deputy director Shayan Nargis said here on Wednesday.

With medical facilities exorbitantly expensive in Afghanistan, Nargis contacted the RCFC that eventually agreed to provide free medical treatment to the children hailing mostly from Faryab, Kapisa and Kabul provinces.

Though excited at being able to sooth some of the pain of the children from the conflict-ravaged nation, RCFC vice president Lali De rued lack of funds and governmental assistance.

"Most of the children as well I am are a big fan of Shah Rukh Khan. Wish we could meet him," said Nargis, 25, a big fan of the Bollywood star.