Former automobile mechanic Naseer Ahmad has a sad story to tell. He begins with the time when he was working as a mechanic in Kabul and had a good life. When the Jehadies came to power, Naseer Ahmad, like thousands of others, lost his job and had to migrate to Mazar-e-Sharif, where he and his family lived for about 7 years. "During the seven years, we witnessed several conflicts in Mazar-e-Sharif" he says. This was the period before the Taliban captured Mazar-e-Sharif.

When the Taliban arrived in Maza-e-Sharif, Naseer Ahmad and his family, like thousands of others, had to migrate to Pakistan due to severe conflicts between the Jehadi and Taliban fundamentalists and also their brutal crimes against the people. "We came to Pakistan and I found a job as a mechanic in a Pakistani shop in Peshawar… our life was good enough, at least I was able to feed my children…" he goes on. The sadder part of his story, however, begins when he developed an ulcer in the big toe of his left foot. Gradually, the ulcer grew. The tests showed that his blood vessels were blocked. He tried his best to cure his foot, visiting different hospitals and spending considerable amount of money on tests and diagnosis. He even went to Kabul to seek free treatment through the Red Cross and other institutions, but in the end they had to amputate his leg. "With one leg, I finally came back to Peshawar" he continues with a broken voice and tears in his eyes.

After a year his other foot developed the same problem. The same struggle to avoid amputation was repeated, this time with even more efforts and difficulties. "I was worried about my children's future, who was going to feed them?" he says while his daughters and their mother listen and weep silently. Finally the second leg also had to be amputated.

Naseer Ahmad is the father of 5 daughters and a son, the eldest girl being around sixteen while the youngest is three and a half years old while his son is only 5 years old. Presently he is living in a small rented room in Peshawar with his daughters and his wife. He still works as a salesman in a nearby shop, selling used stuffed toys and clothes. Now the fingers of his right hand are developing the same problem. The doctors have told him that if it is not cured, they will have to amputate his hands and that there is also the danger of it spreading to his body, in which case he will die. Naseer himself asks RAWA and other people to help him survive for his children. He appeals to the world to help him go to another country for treatment in order to survive.

Naseer Ahmad's wife works as a cook in a factory. She earns about Rs.1500 (US$25) a month of which Rs.800 is paid for the house rent, 200 for transport, with only Rs 500 (less than US$10) left to pay for electricity, gas, food, medical expenses, etc. for the month. She has sent two of her daughters to her sister's house (whose economic conditions are not good either) as she cannot feed them. "I couldn't afford to send them to school, so I had to send them to their aunt's house" she says. She also appeals for help in the treatment of her husband and the future of her five daughters.

One of Naseer Ahmad's young daughters says she wishes that her father could go abroad and be treated. She cannot talk any further as she bursts into cries of agony. Her elder sister also wishes the same thing but can talk even less than her. 6-years-old Nelofar also cries and says "save the life of my father.."

Doctors in Pakistan say he can be treated in a developed country but when he can't even feed his children it is quite impossible to go abroad for treatment. "Few days ago I borrowed Rs.1000 to buy my medicine," he says.

Naseer Ahmad's life is the only hope for his suffering family. RAWA's video interview with him and his family is available on request along with his medical documents. If you want to help him live, please contact us at rawa@rawa.org.

Please contact any NGOs, hospitals, etc who may be able to help this ill-fated family by helping Naseer Ahmad go to a foreign country for treatment.