3. Earthquake in Pakistan: Sarmad Tariq Draws Attention to the Plight of the Disabled

The earthquake that hit Pakistan on 8 October, 2005 measured 7.6 on the Richter scale. Islamabad, AMAL’s headquarters, suffered relatively little damage; yet less than a hundred miles away, in towns like Balakot and Muzaffarabad, the devastation was enormous.

Like the rest of the country, AMAL responded to the call for help by organizing deliveries of food, clothing, bedding, medicine and other supplies to the victims. As rescue work continued, it became evident that large numbers of survivors would remain scarred forever by the crippling injuries they had suffered. These were the ones who would need the most sustained help.

It was therefore a great honour for AMAL to co-sponsor Sarmad Tariq to participate in the ING New York City Marathon for the disabled on 6 November, 2005. Paralyzed by a serious diving accident at the age of fifteen, Sarmad’s participation in New York made it possible for him to focus international attention on the plight of earthquake victims.

In surviving the quake, twenty nine year old Sarmad and his wife were only too aware of the tens of thousands of newly disabled Pakistanis. At first, Sarmad thought of skipping the trip to New York and donating his sponsors’ money to earthquake relief. Fortunately, he realized that he could perform a greater service by bringing their plight to the world’s attention. This gave redoubled meaning to his participation in the New York marathon.

Disability means social exclusion for the 2.55 per cent (3,745,299 people) of Pakistan’s population affected. The facts concerning women are particularly harsh:

• Disabled women are more likely than men to be living with their parental families than to have husbands to care for them.
• If they are married, they are more likely than men to experience divorce.
• Disabled women are more likely to experience sexual violence in relationships and institutions.
• Fewer disabled girls than boys are enrolled in school.
• In crisis situations, aid is less likely to reach disabled women and girls since they are less able to compete for supplies in situations of scarcity.