Day 3
Went to KOO (Kabul Orthopaedic Organisation). CIR has negotiated space there. The wheelchairs are stacked in one large room and that’s where the training will take place. There is another small room for our office.
I should mention that I am being driven around by Qaseem who will be assisting me in the project. The professional driver is away attending to a sick mother.
The GH is full of Indians. There is Deepak (from Delhi), a veteran of 7 months. He is a civil engineer consulting with an Indo afghan JV.
There is another senior engineer named Khurana. He too works with the disabled. He is here from Bombay to fit some Jaipur Foot units.
Met one Eyad at dinner. He is Jordanian. Here to assist the police at Mazer.
Incidentally, Ahmed Shah Massoud (of Mazer-el-shariff) is regarded a national hero.
The town is teeming with NGOs of all shapes and sizes – 2000 registered and counting.Traffic rivals Bangkok’s.
Day 4 (Sunday)
Opened an account with Punjab National Bank across the road. very friendly chief: Mohanty. Hopefully will get some funds from U.S. in a couple of days.
Half the day went in e-mailing Nikola travel invoices etc.
It rained.
Day 5 (today)
Rain again and very cold. Jacket put to use, also tie.
Had yet another meeting in MMD (Ministry of Martys and Disabled) with Mr.Naquibulla who is CIR’s man there. In the process of extending the visa.
25 April 2005 Judah