Persons with physical disabilities in conflict-affected areas, like Afghanistan, often lack access to proper rehabilitation services, leading to limited mobility and reduced integration into society and the economy.
Following the 2021 upheaval in Afghanistan, the influx of Afghan migrants, including Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), in Iran has increased, making access to these ICRC-supported services crucial for vulnerable Afghans and their host communities.
To address this, the ICRC’s Physical Rehabilitation Program (PRP) in Iran has been collaborating with the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) on Physical Rehabilitation Centers (PRCs) in Mashhad (since 2018), Zahedan (since 2021), and Tehran (since 2022). Additionally, the ICRC supports two partner NGOs, Society for Recovery Support (SRS) in Mashhad and International Farda Development Activists (IFDA) in Zahedan, in identifying and referring PwDs to the IRCS centers.
The program offers on-the-job support, specialized short-term training, and a multidisciplinary approach, offering services such as prosthetics, orthotics, wheelchairs, crutches, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and more.
In 2024, the ICRC in cooperation with IRCS, SRS and IFDA:
- Supported 1,185 physical rehabilitation services for 548 Afghan migrants and Iranians in Tehran, Khorasan Razavi, and Sistan & Baluchistan.
- Conducted regular field visits to PRCs in Mashhad, Zahedan, and Tehran, providing on-the-job training, focusing on modern techniques in manufacturing lower limb orthoses and prostheses, as well as physical assessments.
- Visited the Afghan settlement in Mehmanshahr, Khorasan Razavi, screening 190 PwDs, and identifying approximately 50 cases in need of assistive devices. During a follow-up visit, assistive devices including special wheelchairs for children and adolescents, crutches, walking aids, and other daily living aids were distributed.
And within the partnership with IRCS:
- Organized a six-day hands-on workshop in Tehran on manufacturing lower limb prostheses for IRCS prosthetists, following 6 weeks of online sessions to equip participants with essential skills and knowledge.
- Conducted volunteers training on ‘Early Identification and Referral of PwDs’ in Tehran, Khorasan Razavi, and Sistan and Baluchistan to enhance PwDs’ access to services and leverage the capacity of IRCS volunteers.
- Organized a national webinar on ‘Introduction to Gait and Motion Analysis’ for IRCS staff to enhance their decision-making abilities regarding the motion and gait analysis lab.
