A Paralympic bicycle owner from Afghanistan who’s in search of asylum within the UK is struggling to stroll on damaged prosthetic legs after being denied new ones as a result of he doesn’t have refugee standing.
Qaher Hazrati has been given a secondhand bike by a charity to assist him get round however this week it was stolen from the place it was locked exterior his Residence Workplace resort, leaving him devastated and much more restricted in his means to maneuver round. It was one in all 9 bicycles just lately stolen from that resort.
Hazrati had each legs amputated beneath the knee on the age of 14 after being caught within the crossfire of preventing between the Taliban and mujahideen in 1996. He and others have been sitting on a bridge when a bullet hit it and induced an explosion. Lots of those that have been with him have been killed or significantly injured.
“I was taken to the hospital and the doctor said he had to amputate my legs because I had lost so much blood,” Hazrati stated.
After the incident he was left in agony and despair till he was given a bicycle by an organisation in Afghanistan known as the Aabrar Institute, which offered a method to revive his mobility. The Worldwide Committee of the Pink Cross helped him to acquire prosthetic legs.
He had by no means ridden a bicycle earlier than shedding his legs however developed a love for biking and different sports activities together with rowing and taking pictures. He competed in an annual competitors for disabled cyclists in his house nation and gained the primary prize of a bicycle yearly.
“Although I had no legs I used to beat the cyclists competing with one leg,” he stated. “I always won the bicycle in that competition.”
He turned one in all his nation’s prime Paralympian pace cyclists, competing within the 2004 Paralympic Video games in Athens. He was concerned with the Afghanistan Paralympic Committee and helped to coach female and male athletes. He travelled to worldwide competitions, supporting different athletes when he was not competing himself.
The Taliban takeover of his nation in August 2021 meant it was now not potential to proceed along with his sporting actions, and coaching feminine athletes was banned together with all ladies’s sport. He was attacked in his nation and needed to flee.
He arrived within the UK in February this 12 months and claimed asylum. On the resort the place the Residence Workplace is accommodating him in east London, he’s struggling to maneuver round as a result of his prosthetic legs are so broken. He has taped them as much as attempt to minimise the cracks in them however fears placing an excessive amount of strain on them in case they cut up additional.
“I asked the GP if I would be able to get new prosthetics but I was told I cannot get new legs while I am still in the asylum system,” he stated. “I do not know how long I will be waiting for a decision on my case. I have just had my asylum interview with the Home Office.”
Fundamental prosthetic limbs value about £3,000 and extra refined variations appropriate for aggressive sport can value £10,000 or extra.
The charity Care4Calais is supporting him in his resort and has helped to ascertain a community of individuals among the many asylum seekers in his resort who will help him. It has launched a crowdfunder to assist him get a brand new pair of prosthetic legs.
Lara Bishop, a volunteer on the charity, stated: “Qaher has lost everything but he has displayed extraordinary courage and resilience in the face of great adversity. We’ve drawn a blank with the NHS who say they cannot help him until he has refugee status. If he is able to get new prosthetics it will restore his mobility and independence and help him to rebuild his life in safety and dignity.”
Hazrati stated: “I miss my family in Afghanistan so much. My daughter is eight years old. When she was six she asked to be taken to the hospital. We asked her why as she was not sick. She did not understand why I did not have legs and said she wanted the hospital to cut off her legs so she could give hers to me. Apart from my family my whole life is sport. If I could get some new legs I could start training again. My dream would be to be part of the GB team for the 2028 Paralympics.”
Residence Workplace sources stated they don’t routinely touch upon particular person circumstances.
