Behinderung durch Armut, das vergessene Übel... The main reason for the incredible amount of disabled people worldwide is poverty. Major deficits for people with disabilities are based on lack of medical treatment in general, the possibility to gain rehabilitation, and missing access to the job market as a result Poverty and disability are mostly a vicious circle: According to the World Bank 20% of all humans living in extreme poverty have disabilities. The major quantities of these live in development countries. Concerned most are children and women. 6,4% of all children younger than fourteen are disabled in Africa: This is ways more than in countries with higher income where the share is at 2,8% Children with handicaps have by far less chance for education then non handicapped. UNESCO stated as published in 2004 that 98% of children with disabilities do not attend school at all. According to the estimation of the WHO some years ago only 1-2% of disabled people have access to rehabilitation activities and institutions.  This is mainly to the lack of rehabilitation infrastructure and well- trained personnel. In countries as e.g. Burkina Faso there is one physiotherapist per 10.000 inhabitants. By comparison in Finland the figure is 21 per the same amount of people. The Shortage of orthopedic aids is striking. As to estimations of Whirlwind Wheelchair International only 1% of people concerned possess a wheel chair because medical supply in development countries covers only basic needs and demands. The purchase of a wheel chair with own financial means is not achievable for the predominant majority of people with disabilities, due to the fact that because of their personal situation they are excluded from the job market. Mostly they are hidden by their families and are kept just alive. In case of paralysis or multiple sclerosis a wheel chair is of highest interest. It allows the patient to leave bed frequently to avoid complications like skin ulcers caused by pressure (decubitus). These occur with most of disabled lying in bed, due to the lack of muscles and the resulting permanent pressure from bones onto skin. This can be avoided by mobilization through wheel chairs. Decubitus causes permanent intense pain that can only be relieved by painkilling medicine (if available). Normally bandages have to be exchanged 2 to 3 times a day witch results in big burden to the patient as well as to the nursing person. When financial possibilities fail to supply the patient with medicine and bandages decubital lesion can cause a number of fatal diseases such as pneumonia, sepsis or even death Resulting the supply of a wheel chair to the patient can decide between life or death. In the western world is the provision of modern and adequate wheelchairs is a matter of course after accident or disability from birth. Insurance and health funds finance hospitals nursing homes, special-care homes and rehabilitation centers that are equipped with adequate curing means. In contrast to development countries, where people mostly have no access to these institutions supply in our society is by comparison excellent. That’s why used but fully functioning wheel chairs and other helping means are classified as scrap metal and replaced by equipment though the 3rd word has new an immense demand. Our association’s only issue is to collect wheel chairs before they end up in the scrap press, maintain and repair them and ship them to the poor to ease their life or prevent them from a torturous death.