09 May 2017- Kandahar: The “City for All” programme (CFA) held a Strategic Municipal Action Plan (SMAP) in Kandahar city. A part of the workshop 223 number of people including women, men, disabled persons, farmers, civil activists, media, representatives from the Municipalities, Nahia (District) heads, Ministry of Urban Development and Housing (MUDH) and UN-Habitat staff participated.

The purpose of the workshop is to develop a future plan for urban development through the process to identify and prioritize the environmental issues and concerns. During the workshop, the participants/stakeholders agreed to collaborate and adopt a working group method in addressing the environmental issues prioritized in the city consultation. Finally, they drew up the strengths and weaknesses of the Kandahar city as a tool for guiding urban growth and development.

Mr. Faizullah Omaryar is 33 years old, and he is the Deputy Director of the Afghan Disable Rehabilitation Association. He is also part of District Development Association (DDA), which nominated the representative for CDC in Kandahar city.

He proposed three projects for the disabled people during the workshop;

1. Orthopaedic centres (at the moment there is only one place in the regional hospital and difficult to reach)
2. Private home, a public centre where to be taken care of disabled people.
3. Land in Aino mine (Mine means neighbourhood) was allocated for disabled people. Now it needs a building.

Other projects he proposed where a sidewalk that is straight for disabling and blind people to walk safely and in public facilities bathrooms where people in wheelchairs can enter.

Faizullah sits in a wheelchair, and he can go out on his own. However, he has to be assisted to pass stairs or other blockings. It would be great if the city is more accessible for him and other disabled persons. All projects that will come out of “City for All” will benefit the disabled. Especially, when interventions that will help disabled people are included in the projects.