KATHMANDU: Three international organisations have handed over 260 wheelchairs to the Nepal Disabled Fund (NDF) in Kathmandu, marking the third phase of a wheelchair distribution initiative that has now provided nearly 800 mobility aids to persons with disabilities across Nepal since 2021.

The handover ceremony was held at Bhrikuti Mandap on May 25 in the presence of 250 participants, including beneficiaries and distinguished guests from Korea and Nepal. Korean Ambassador to Nepal Park Tae Young attended as Chief Guest, with the programme chaired by Chakra Bahadur Budha, Member Secretary of the National Disabled Fund.

The 260 wheelchairs comprised 245 basic wheelchairs with cushions and 15 adaptive Kanga wheelchairs designed for users requiring specialised mobility support, along with 20 sets of spare parts for long-term maintenance. Around 50 to 60 beneficiaries received their wheelchairs directly at the ceremony, with the remainder to be distributed based on need assessments conducted by NDF.

The initiative, titled "Wheelchair for Living Independently in the Community — Phase III", is a collaboration between Wheelchair Foundation USA, Tiny Share of Field Activities (TSOFA) USA, and the Um Hong Gil Human Foundation (UHGHF) of Korea. Captain Um Hong Gil, Executive Director of UHGHF, and David Yongsik Hwang, Chairman of TSOFA, travelled to Kathmandu with his spouse to participate in the ceremony and related field activities.

The programme has grown steadily since its launch: Phase I in 2021 distributed 240 wheelchairs with 17 sets of spare parts, Phase II in 2024 expanded to 270 wheelchairs, and Phase III has now added a further 260, bringing the cumulative total to 770 wheelchairs distributed over five years.

Alongside the handover, the supporting organisations conducted monitoring and evaluation visits to beneficiaries' homes and disability shelters on May 21 and 22, interacting directly with recipients and their families to assess the impact of wheelchair support on daily mobility, social participation, and quality of life.

NDF and the partner organisations reaffirmed their commitment to long-term cooperation in support of the empowerment, inclusion, and independent living of persons with disabilities across Nepal.