Video of boy with prosthetic leg wins hearts
A VIDEO of a happy boy with a prosthetic leg dancing to a tune while onlookers clap and laugh has proved popular with social media users in Afghanistan.
The video of Ahmad Rahman, a 5-year-old Afghan from eastern Logar province, who received a prosthetic leg at an orthopaedic centre in the capital Kabul, had by Friday received more than 40000 likes and shared by more than 12000 users on Twitter.
Roya Musawi, a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Afghanistan, uploaded the video on Monday, saying the boy lost his leg to a landmine in his hometown.
Twitter user Kashif Abbasi wrote: “Nothing compares to this happiness and suffering.
“What a lovely, cheerful and valiant boy,” wrote Hameed Khatak.
According to the ICRC, 22 000 artificial limbs and other orthopaedic devices were given to Afghan patients at the agency’s rehabilitation centres across the country last year.
“The record number of Afghans seeking rehabilitation assistance is a reflection of the huge levels of need,” said Alberto Cairo, the ICRC’S physical rehabilitation programme manager in Afghanistan.
The ICRC ceased most of its activities in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of protective guarantees by the Taliban on April 11.
According to a report by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, children accounted for 28% of civilian casualties in armed conflict last year.
The agency recorded 3 062 child casualties (927 deaths and 2 135 injured), with non-suicide IED (improvised explosive device) attacks listed as the second most common cause. |