The Morning That Changed Everything
The morning air was crisp, the kind that whispers of winter’s approach. The sun had just begun to brush gold over the snow-capped peaks of Muzaffarabad. Ten-year-old Aminah, wearing her neat blue school uniform and two tight braids, hurried along the dusty path to school.
She wasn’t feeling well that morning. Her stomach ached and she’d begged her mother for more time in bed. But it was a Saturday (Yes Pakistan Schools are open on Saturday) and she had a test. She wanted to make her mother proud.
At 8:50 a.m., as the children settled into their classrooms, a sound like thunder tore through the valley. The ground convulsed violently beneath her feet. Windows shattered, walls buckled, and within seconds the laughter of children turned into screams.
Aminah fell hard. Dust filled her lungs. Through the haze, she saw her school collapse — a blur of bricks, cries, and silence. A tiny hand poked from the rubble, a blue scarf fluttering beside it. The earth roared, and the world changed forever.
💷 Gift Aid adds 25% extra at no cost to you.
The Earthquake That Shook a Nation
That morning, 8th October 2005, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck near Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Within moments, entire villages vanished.
Nearly 100,000 lives were lost, and over 3.5 million people were left homeless. Tremors reached as far as India and Afghanistan. It became one of the deadliest disasters in South Asian history.
Mountains collapsed. Roads split open. Hospitals, schools, mosques — all fell to dust. In places like Neelum Valley, Bagh, and Rawalakot, families were trapped beneath the ruins for days.
Aminah ran through the wreckage toward home, her small heart pounding. Where her house once stood was now only rubble. Her mother was gone. The world was silent.
“I remember that day as if it was yesterday,” Aminah says quietly. “When the earth shook, I thought it was the end. But Allah spared me — perhaps so I could help others later.”
Hope Beneath the Rubble
Amid the devastation came moments of divine mercy. Rescue workers — some local villagers, others from around the world — dug through the ruins with bare hands. Then, a cry pierced the silence.
A baby was found alive after more than 24 hours, wrapped in dust yet untouched by death. Her name was Noor, meaning light. Even in the darkest night, there was still hope.
In those days, help arrived from every corner of Pakistan and beyond. From tents to blankets, from doctors to prayers — people stood together as one Ummah.
The Rebuilding Years
The earthquake did not just destroy buildings; it tore open the soul of Kashmir. But it also awakened a fierce resilience.
Today, nearly two decades later, Azad Jammu & Kashmir still bears the scars, yet it has risen stronger. According to the AJK at a Glance 2024 report:
- The population has grown to 4.46 million, with 733,000 in Muzaffarabad alone.
- 77.5% literacy rate shows a generation determined to rebuild through knowledge.
- 1,148 doctors now serve the region — one for every 3,886 people.
- 2,950 hospital beds care for a population still vulnerable to emergencies.
- 4,032 primary schools nurture young minds where old ones once stood in ruins.
Yet, the mountains remain fragile. Experts warn that another major quake could strike within our lifetimes.
Aminah, now grown and teaching in Muzaffarabad, says,
“Every time I hear the ground rumble or a window shake, my heart remembers. But I also remember the people who came to help. That’s why I joined Kashmir Welfare Foundation. We can’t stop the earth from shaking, but we can make sure people survive when it does.”
💷 Gift Aid adds 25% extra at no cost to you.
Rebuilding Hope After Disaster
Since we established ourselves as a Kashmir Charity a few years ago, with your support:
- Over 6,000 families have received earthquake-resistant housing assistance.
- 1 mobile medical unit now serve mountainous communities.
- New schools and water systems have been restored in Neelum and Bagh.
- 2,000 emergency kits distributed to remote villages at risk.
Get Prepared – Before It Strikes Again
Every tremor in Kashmir is a warning — not of fear, but of responsibility. With 96% of the population now electrified, more connected villages also mean faster relief response, but preparedness remains limited.
For every 1,500 people, there is just one hospital bed. If another large-scale disaster were to strike, medical and shelter capacity would be overwhelmed within hours.
This is why Kashmir Welfare Foundation’s Earthquake Relief Campaign exists — to prepare now, not later. Our teams in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Neelum are training locals in first aid, building safer community shelters, and reinforcing schools. Every donation from the UK helps fund early-warning systems, emergency kits, and life-saving education for children like Aminah once was.
“Preparedness is mercy in action,” says Abdul Basit, Trustee at Kashmir Welfare Foundation.
“We cannot control the earth, but we can control our response. Every pound from the UK builds a safer home, a stronger community, and a life saved tomorrow.”
Help us protect lives before disaster strikes.
Support the Kashmir Earthquake Relief Campaign today and strengthen communities across Azad Kashmir.
📍 Support Victims of Kashmir Earthquake – This is an Ongoing Appeal
If you donation comes before an Earthquake, it is used for Earthquake Preparedness. We then utillise the budget for Earthquake Response. Earthquakes occur 10 to 15 times a Month in Kashmir.
💷 Gift Aid adds 25% extra at no cost to you.
Rising From Rubble to Resilience
Aminah returned to her rebuilt school years later, not as a student, but as a teacher. The same mountain wind that once carried dust now carries children’s laughter.
“I still see my classmates’ faces when I close my eyes,” she says. “But I also see their spirit in my students — learning, growing, dreaming. That’s the best tribute we can offer.”
The story of the 2005 earthquake isn’t just one of loss. It’s a testament to human resilience — and to faith. In every collapsed wall, there were hands that reached out. In every grave, there were prayers whispered. And in every survivor, there was a vow: never again unprepared.
How Your Donation Helps
Every donation from UK donors fuels life-saving action on the ground
Transparency is at the heart of Kashmir Welfare Foundation. Every pound is accounted for, and every project is monitored by our teams in Muzaffarabad, Neelum, and Kotli.
If you’re a UK taxpayer, please tick the Gift Aid box when you donate. It increases your donation by 25 percent at no extra cost, extending your mercy even further and allowing us to reach more families in need.
Why Give Now
Right now, hundreds of families in Azad Kashmir live in fragile hillside homes that could collapse with the next major tremor. Winter is approaching, and emergency readiness is vital.
Your donation today ensures that food, water, shelter, and medical help are ready before the next disaster.
Because when the ground shakes again, your generosity could be the reason someone survives.
💷 Gift Aid adds 25% extra at no cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What caused the 2005 Kashmir earthquake?
A massive 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck near Muzaffarabad due to tectonic activity along the Himalayan fault line, causing widespread destruction across northern Pakistan and Kashmir.
2. How does Kashmir Welfare Foundation support earthquake preparedness today?
We provide emergency training, disaster-resistant shelters, and relief kits to at-risk communities across Muzaffarabad, Neelum, and Kotli through the Earthquake Relief Campaign.
3. Can UK donors contribute directly online?
Yes. Donations can be made securely through our website using debit or credit card, PayPal, or bank transfer. UK taxpayers can also add Gift Aid to increase impact.
4. What are the most urgent needs after an earthquake in Kashmir?
Shelter, medical care, clean water, and food supplies are the top priorities. Your donations help provide these essentials within the first critical 72 hours after disaster strikes.
5. How can I ensure my donation reaches those in need?
Kashmir Welfare Foundation works directly with local teams and verified community networks. Each donation is monitored for impact and reported transparently on our official site.
Aminah survived the earthquake. Thousands didn’t. But every new home, every trained responder, and every rebuilt classroom stands as proof that hope is stronger than any tremor.
Stand with Aminah. Stand with Kashmir.
Donate to the Kashmir Earthquake Relief Campaign today.
📍 Support Victims of Kashmir Earthquake – This is an Ongoing Appeal
If you donation comes before an Earthquake, it is used for Earthquake Preparedness. We then utillise the budget for Earthquake Response. Earthquakes occur 10 to 15 times a Month in Kashmir.
💷 Gift Aid adds 25% extra at no cost to you.
