Charities have called on government to take urgent action after it emerged that three ministries have compiled vastly different figures for the number of people who are disabled in the country. The Ministry of Planning and Economy has said the number is 140,000 while the Ministry of Health has estimated it is close to one million. The Ministry of Social Affairs has stated that it disburses assistance to about 250,000 males and females with disabilities. At the Sheikh Ali Al-Abdullah Al-Jaffali Care and Rehabilitation Complex here on Tuesday, more than 100 persons representing 33 charities called on the Ministry of Planning and Economy to provide complete data on the number of persons with disabilities, including their type of disabilities. They said it will help charities and government institutions plan their programs properly. Participants at the third meeting of the charities have called for the establishment of an authority to deal with the care and protection of those people living with disabilities.
