TORONTO - In an attempt to bring some Christmas cheer to the poorest people of Kandahar region - people with disabilities, Canadian military personnel recently distributed much needed supplies including flour and cooking oil.

cbm's Canadian Director Dave McComiskey praised the Canadian military for their heart-warming and practical gesture. McComiskey stated, "I was very moved by the Canadians' outreach to the poorest people of the Kandahar region - those with disabilities. It was wonderful to see that this very needy and often neglected group were given vital provisions to help them survive."

The World Health Organization estimates that 10% of the world's population suffers from a permanent disability which severely impacts quality of life. With the majority of these people living in the developing world, the burden of disability is clearly heaviest on those nations least able to cope.

McComiskey believes there is a clear association between poverty and disability. "We know that poverty causes disability and without a doubt disability in the developing world causes poverty."

Commenting on the Canadian military's gesture, McComiskey noted, "While I praise Canada's help for these needy people, I fear that it is only short-term. There are also people who need prostheses for legs lost in landmine explosions and others could benefit from wheelchairs appropriate for the terrain around Kandahar."

He also feels that many people with disabilities missed out on the needed supplies because they had to travel to the military for aid. "From my experience," says McComiskey, "people with disabilities such as blindness or cerebral palsy are unable to come to us for help - we need to go them with help."

McComiskey went on to say, "This is a wonderful start and I highly commend the Canadian forces. I hope this is not a one-time gesture. Let's look for ways to sustain our efforts."

CBM is an expert at helping people with disabilities throughout the developing world.

CBM currently supports 1,011 disability-focused projects in 112 countries Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.