A CHARITABLE TRUST REGISTERED NUMBER 294581

Since 1986 Sandy Gall's Afghanistan Appeal (SGAA) has provided artificial limbs and walking aids for more than 20,000 patients and physiotherapy treatment for nearly 50,000 patients. The Halo Trust says there are still hundreds of thousands of landmines in Afghanistan, the result of 25 years of virtually uninterrupted warfare. In consequence an enormous number of Afghans have been disabled; the UN estimates 3% of the population are directly affected and 10% indirectly affected.

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Fiona Gall's Blog

Visit to Afghanistan - Oct 2011

I arrive at Kabul airport on a beautiful sunny day in October...read

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In September 2005 another Panjsher Walk took place. This time the sturdy walkers numbered 20 and were escorted by five members of the Gall/Bonhoure family, with their welfare being entrusted to the capable hands of Dr Philippe Bonhoure. Their achievements were a resounding success. Not only did they match the previous high results of the 2003 expedition, but they walked half way up the Darra side valley and climbed the Khawak Pass before tackling the Anjuman Pass (13,000 feet). What energy and enthusiasm, especially as some of them were city dwellers and sailors and not reckoned to be capable of tramping the unforgiving heights of the stony Hindu Kush. We are humbly grateful to them all.

The same excellent team of Afghan helpers were there, with one exception. Gul Zaman, a senior physiotherapist, did a great job as a translator during the 2003 walk, but in 2004 he left SGAA to work for a US contractor in Badakshan. Tragically both he and the driver were killed when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. He left a wife and four children. So the team consisted of Najibullah to translate, Farid and Usman to drive, Rasul and Shireen from the Panjsher to dig and dismantle the long-drop loos each night, and the team of cooks and bottle washers to provide nourishment only this time not quite up to standard as Jan Mohammed was absent and his understudy was a bit mean with provisions. Best of all was our expert guide, Haji Sufat Mir. To all our Afghan friends and helpers, we give many thanks for making the expedition such a success.

SGAA would also like to extend sincere thanks to all kind donors who give so generously this year to our Appeal including UNDP's National Programme for the Disabled (US$465,000), The Nyon Ladies Rotary Club, Adopt a Minefield, The Alastair & Rosemary Leslie Charity, The Dingwall Trust and The Saints and Sinners.

To these and many more we are truly grateful.