At 51, Habibullah carries the weight of an entire household. His wife, six sons and three daughters all depend on him. Originally from Ghor province in central Afghanistan, he was forced to leave everything behind when drought made survival impossible. Now, he lives in western Herat province where he is trying to rebuild a life for his family.
From pain to positivity: Habibullah’s story of resilience
Habibullah once shaped metal with steady hands, proud of the work that kept his family fed and secure. But three years ago, everything changed in a moment. A car accident shattered his spinal cord and left him unable to walk. The man who had always stood tall for his loved ones now faced life in a wheelchair.
“The pain is unbearable. At night it becomes so intense that I scream and cry out, waking my entire family. A severe nerve pain runs through my legs, leaving me in distress and unable to sleep,” he says.
Habibullah has undergone five surgeries in Kabul, Herat and Pakistan since the accident. He tells us that the treatment cost nearly 900,000 Afghanis (around 13,900 US dollars), two thirds of which he borrowed from family and friends. It is a huge debt he cannot repay.
A daily fight for tomorrow
Without income, Habibullah faced impossible choices. For a while, he sent his children out to work to support the family. In his darkest moments, he even considered marrying off his 15-year-old daughter to reduce the household burden and bring in dowry money that could be used to meet the family’s expenses.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) provided the family with cash assistance to address existing protection risks and support their case plan. The goal was to find practical solutions to help Habibullah protect his family, reducing the risk of child labour and early marriage, and improving their living conditions.
NRC also referred the family to other providers and internal services for holistic support, addressing several needs and contributing to longer-term empowerment. For example, in collaboration with key health partners, NRC ensured that Habibullah had access to a wheelchair.
The comprehensive support from NRC allowed the family to start a small business of selling credit for SIM cards, hence generating a modest income of around 150 Afghani (2.3 USD) per day, covering medical expenses.
“This wheelchair has given me more than mobility. It allows me to go outside, meet people, sell credit cards, and earn an income to support myself and my family,” he explains.
“The wheelchair I had before didn’t fold, so taking a taxi was impossible for me. The one I have just received is foldable and much more comfortable. Now I finally have the freedom to travel wherever I need to go.”
The wheelchair has given Habibullah a vital connection to the outside world, enabling him to continue supporting his family despite his condition.
From protection to empowerment: NRC’s approach
NRC further assessed the needs of Habibullah’s family following his car accident. We provided protection case management to address multiple needs.
As a displaced family, Habibullah and his family once lived in a tent facing severe hardships: scorching heat in the summer and bitter cold in the winter. NRC provided shelter support by constructing two rooms, a hall, and a latrine. This intervention offered the family not only protection from the elements but also safety, dignity and privacy.
“The support I received from NRC has given me hope and the strength to stay strong. Knowing that there are people who care about my situation gives me the courage to keep moving forward,” Habibullah says.
With his children in school, a stable home, and a small but growing income, Habibullah has regained a sense of hope for the future. The support he received has not only addressed his immediate needs but also reduced his dependence on humanitarian aid, strengthening his ability to sustain his family in the long term.
Habibullah’s story shows how the right help at the right time can change lives. But he recognises that his case is just one of many.
“Although there is security in Afghanistan today, millions of people are still struggling without the humanitarian assistance they desperately need. The international community must not forget the Afghan people,” he says.
We would like to thank our donors including the Centre de Crise et de Soutien, Danida, EU Humanitarian Aid, the German Federal Foreign Office, Norad and the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration for their continued support of our Protection from Violence programmes across Afghanistan. Together, they enable us to deliver timely, principled and life-saving assistance.
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