Canadian Forces to Distribute Wheelchairs in Afghanistan

Conservative MP Russ Hiebert, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, announced ‘Operation Mobility’, a special initiative that will see Canadian Forces personnel in Afghanistan deliver over 500 wheelchairs to disabled Afghanis.

“These wheelchairs send a message that Canadians, including Canada’s Armed Forces, care about the people of Afghanistan,” said Hiebert.

“The wheelchairs our soldiers will distribute are going to dramatically improve the lives of disabled Afghanis, giving hope and opportunity to each of them and their families,” he said.
Due to decades of warfare, and millions of landmines and un-exploded ordinances, Afghanistan is a nation where an estimated one in five adult males is missing at least one leg.

“Our Canadian Forces are in Afghanistan to help rebuild that shattered country.  With this special project our soldiers will be helping to rebuild the lives of many individual Afghanis who have lost limbs to landmines,” Hiebert said.

The aid project, Operation Mobility, is a joint effort between the Wheelchair Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Forces and CIDA.  The project was made possible by an anonymous donor from British Columbia, himself a former soldier and veteran of the Second World War.

To view the “Afghanistan – Canada” video, please click here.