Border News Agency
Kyauktaw, June 10
People with disabilities and residents of Arakan say that assistive devices for rehabilitation are needed among the disabled community there.
Those who have lost their limbs need support for rehabilitation, including crutches, prosthetic legs, and prosthetic arms, among other assistive devices, according to people with disabilities.
“Around here, it’s difficult to get around without crutches. Every time I try to go somewhere, my body just can’t keep up. I can’t even afford to buy prosthetic legs. Even to walk lightly, I need help from others. If I had crutches, moving around would be much easier,” said a disabled man from Kyauktaw Township to Border News Agency.
Due to the airstrikes, heavy weapons, mines, and leftover arms of the Myanmar junta, many people in the Arakan region have lost limbs, and there have also been numerous deaths.
In addition, some people have suffered sensory and neurological impairments, and because there are no assistive devices available for them, they face difficulties in their daily social activities and movements.
Due to these difficulties causing harm to both body and mind, people with disabilities and those assisting them say that, besides assistive devices, psychological care is also urgently needed.
They also emphasize that, in addition to physical and mental rehabilitation support, vocational training and livelihood opportunities are critically needed for these disabled individuals to sustain their lives.
“The basic and most urgent need for people with disabilities is their livelihood and employment,” said U Hla Myint, chairman of the Rakhine Disabled Persons Association, to Border News Agency.
Although the Arakan Army-controlled areas have ongoing mine clearance activities, mine warning efforts, and distribution of pamphlets, many people in the Arakan region are still suffering from limb loss and injuries or deaths caused by mines and leftover weapons, according to local residents.
Among them, the majority are household headsmen who go fishing and gather food to survive. Many women have also suffered severe injuries or have died.
Due to the junta’s airstrike bombings, many women have lost both hands or legs. There is an urgent need for psychological and physical support for these women who have been disabled, according to people who are unable to help themselves.
Among those who became disabled due to the loss of limbs, there are also many women, not just men. Losing their limbs can leave them feeling mentally weakened. Since women have long been viewed as the more vulnerable group, they need even more support and assistance,” a social worker told Border News Agency.
People say that support for persons with disabilities – such as rehabilitation equipment and psychological counseling—is extremely limited and insufficient.
Some of those who have lost limbs and can afford it are able to buy assistive devices such as prosthetic legs, hands, or crutches. However, due to transportation difficulties, they are often unable to access or purchase those devices.
Since the start of the decisive battle in Arakan, nearly one thousand people have become disabled due to the armed conflict, and the majority of them have lost limbs, according to those working on disability support.
