Hunger strike held in Iraq's Kurdistan region over disabilit

[Piling]

The disabled people in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region are on hunger strike, claiming that government benefits do not let them lead a basic standard of living. An important meeting in Kurdistan’s parliament has taken place to try to reach a solution.

December 12, 2012

ERBIL-Hewlêr, Kurdistan region 'Iraq',— Monday was the 21st day that six members of Kurdistan’s Disabled Group have been on hunger strike. The protest action is now taking its toll, with two of the protesters admitted to hospital with weak kidneys.

Members of the group say their government benefits are not enough to live a basic standard of living. Those who have a job with the government currently get $86.00 each month. Those without a government job get $129.00.

Members of the disability group have a number of demands. They want $515.00 each month for a married person with no government job. They want $257.00 each month for a married person with a monthly government salary of fewer than $429.00. They also want $172.00 each month for a married person with a monthly government salary of over $429.00.

They say an unmarried disabled person with no government job should receive $343.00 in benefits each month. The group also wants disability benefits for people in Iraq’s disputed areas. They say these citizens receive no benefits from Kurdistan or Iraq’s central government.

There are about 3,000 members of the Kurdistan Disabled Group. The group says it has received no official reply from Kurdistan’s parliament during the hunger strike. A meeting took place on Monday with the group,www.Ekurd.net the parliament’s social affairs committee and the ministers of social affairs, finance and health.

The social affairs committee member that Press TV spoke to highlighted that parliament agreed for a monthly benefits level of $214.00. But disabled people say they receive no more than $129.00 each month. This leaves a big question mark over the implementation of the benefits law.

Copyright ©, respective author or news agency, presstv.com

[Anthea]

@ Piling

I imagine disabled people in South Kurdistan are actually disabled, unlike where I am in England, where a VERY large percentage of claimants are actually fit and healthy liars.

Members of the disability group have a number of demands. They want $515.00 each month for a married person with no government job. They want $257.00 each month for a married person with a monthly government salary of fewer than $429.00. They also want $172.00 each month for a married person with a monthly government salary of over $429.00.

They say an unmarried disabled person with no government job should receive $343.00 in benefits each month. The group also wants disability benefits for people in Iraq’s disputed areas. They say these citizens receive no benefits from Kurdistan or Iraq’s central government.

@ Piling

Please could you help me to understand the figures better
What is the average monthly wage in SK
Do do disabled people receive any other benefits?

In England disabled people often receive other financial help ie:
Housing Benefit: pays the rent
Winter heating grant: £200 towards fuel costs
Cold weather payments: extra payments towards fuel costs when temperature is freezing
Plus a special low cost energy supply
Free eyesight tests
Free glasses
Free health treatment, doctor, hospital, operations, medicine, dentists
Free travel passes for buses
Mobility allowance that is often used to cover the cost of a brand new car
Some type of care allowance that pays for disabled person to receive help in their home
A nurse who visits them at home
Probably several more payments and free services that I am not aware of

ALL that and they STILL COMPLAIN

I expect disabled people in England are far better of than those in many other countries

[Piling]

it depends on the average income necessary for having a decent life, lodging, etc. I don't know the cost of life in UK. But is someone if unable to work of course everything should be free.

As I don't know about what they complain I can't judge. In France we have a system of financial assistance quite similar and an income to each disabled people, but life is not easy for them, all the same.

Concerning S. K., food is not expansive, but lodging is in big cities. Other problems is the cost of transport, fuel, heater, etc. Water and electricity are free.

I know that families of martyrs get free food from the government even if they don't need. I don't know if it is the same for poor or disabled persons but it should be.

Medical care and drugs and equipment are awfully expansive for people in S. K. So if someone needs regular medical cares, he can't afford them.

Another trouble is that most part of urbanism, streets, architectures, doors inside building, etc, don't allow for someone with a wheelchair to move. There are many to do in that field. And I suppose they lack of special education centers for children and teens.

If we remember all the war victims, and all the people who became crippled after an accident, beside of those with congenital troubles, I suppose that the number of disabled people is quite important. And also, when you are old, if your family don't support you, you are a beggar. Then if you can't marry and have children, you have to live in a kind family, because it is your brothers or sisters who'll care of you.

It's a big challenge for the KRG to create a system to assist people from their birth to their death. But I suppose that they won't face such opposition like Obama did with his reform.

And for Kurds living out of the KRG that's true : there is no state there, not Iraq, nor KRG. So they got nothing.