The Snow Came Early This Year
My name is Rashid Khan, and I live in a small stone house in Phulwai, high above the Neelum River. They call our region the edge of the world, because beyond these mountains lies Gurez — where the roads vanish under snow for months.
This year, the snow came early. By the first week of November, our roof groaned under its weight, and the path to the next village disappeared. My children — Amina, 12; Usman, 8; Zoya, 6; and the twins, barely 3 — pressed their faces against the frozen window each morning, waiting to see if the sun might return.
It rarely does.
When Firewood Runs Out in Phulwai
In the plains, winter means warm food and long nights indoors.
Here, it means survival maths: how many logs are left; how long will the flour last; which blanket can be shared.
By mid-January, our woodpile had shrunk to almost nothing.
My wife, Sadia, tore old shawls to patch the window gaps while I searched the slopes for fallen branches. I remember the bite of the cold through my gloves, the echo of snow shifting beneath me, and the thought — we still have weeks to go.
At night, we huddled close to the stove. The children fought over whose turn it was to sit nearest. Amina sang softly to quiet the twins, and Sadia whispered duas under her breath, asking Allah to send us ease.
Deliveries are still continuing — urgent need, donate now.
The Sound of Hunger
When the snow isolates us, the markets close first. The roads to Kel and Sharda are cut by avalanches, and the trucks that carry rice and kerosene stop coming. For families like mine, every meal becomes a calculation.
It was two days before New Year, a moment etched in my memory, when Amina turned to me and asked,
“Abbu, what does the city look like in winter? Do people there get snow too?”
I didn’t know how to answer. I told her yes — but that in Muzaffarabad, snow is something people visit, not something they endure.
That night, we boiled a small pan of lentils and tore one piece of bread into six. My youngest cried, “I’m still hungry.” Sadia held him tight and said, “Tomorrow, your father will find something.”
I didn’t tell her that tomorrow would bring only colder winds.
A Valley of Hardship and Beauty of Phulwai
Phulwai is a strange place — both precious and perilous. Beneath our soil lies pegmatite rock rich in garnet and tourmaline, gemstones the world admires. But beauty doesn’t warm a home.
We live among mountains that shine with minerals yet struggle to afford a single quilt.
When the Kashmir Welfare Foundation first reached our area with the Winter Campaign last year, it felt like a miracle had crossed the passes.
I remember the sight of Orange and Green bags carried by volunteers. The colours that represented our Kashmir Flag. Inside each was hope: thick coats, socks, and gloves for children. For Amina and Usman, it was the first time they had new shoes in years.
The difference it made — you cannot measure that in pounds; only in tears.
Where Your Pack Travels
From the mountains surrounding Muzaffarabad to the far valleys of Gurez and Leepa — your donation moves through Kashmir’s frozen heartlands.
Mountains surrounding Muzaffarabad
Relief teams begin their ascent from base camps, packing winter kits in freezing dawn temperatures.
Neelum Valley
Includes Gurez, Shounter, Surgan, Kel, Arang Kel & Sharda — each village reached by snow-jeeps and foot convoys.
Hattian Bala
Routes extend through Leepa Valley and Chikkar, serving isolated households before heavy snowfall seals the roads.
...and beyond
Further outreach into mountain hamlets where no other aid reaches during winter months.
The Deep Freeze in Phulwai
According to the AJ&K Bureau of Statistics (2024), over 30% of households in the upper Neelum belt lack any form of insulated shelter. In Phulwai and nearby Surgan, temperatures often fall to –11 °C, with snow depths exceeding 2.5 metres.
More than 45% of rural families in these zones depend on firewood for heat — a resource that dwindles rapidly each season. Child pneumonia cases triple between December and February.
These are not just numbers. They are names — like Amina’s — whispered into the cold night air.
Faith in the Frost
During one of the harshest nights, the oil lamp flickered out. The sound of the wind outside the walls felt like a cry. Sadia pulled the twins close and said,
“Allah tests us in winter to remind us of warmth in the heart.”
I nodded, pretending to agree, though my heart was heavy. Then, at dawn, the echo of an engine reached us from below — something rare in these frozen months. It was a team from Kashmir Welfare Foundation, making their final deliveries before the road closed.
They brought woollen quilts, food parcels, and heating fuel for ten families.
When the volunteer handed me a box, he smiled and said,
“Brother, this is from a family in Manchester who wanted to help someone just like you.”
I felt my eyes sting. Not because of the cold, but because strangers across the world had remembered us when even our neighbours could not reach.
❄️ Donate Now – Keep Families WarmWhat a Single Donation Means
Every donation travels a journey longer than miles — from your home in the UK to the narrow valleys of Neelum, where every blanket is a shield and every coat is a promise.
What Your Winter Donation Provides
Every pack is prepared in Kashmir and delivered by our volunteers to families facing freezing temperatures.
When the Roads Close
By late January, the road from Sharda to Phulwai becomes impassable. We wait for news from radio broadcasts — which areas are buried, which are still reachable. This isolation changes people. You learn patience the way others learn comfort.
But even here, hope finds its own path. The children build small snow walls and call them “castles of courage.” Amina writes in her notebook that one day she wants to become a doctor “so that no child has to fall sick because of cold.”
It is in these dreams that we survive the longest nights.
“When we reach places like Phulwai, it’s not just about distributing blankets. It’s about showing these families that they are seen, that they are part of our ummah.
Every donation from the UK — no matter how small — is a rope of hope that ties one valley to another.”
— Abdul Basit, Trustee, Kashmir Welfare Foundation
How Your Donation Helps
Your contribution allows Kashmir Welfare Foundation to:
- Deliver winter packs (blankets, coats, shoes, gloves) directly to mountain communities.
- Source supplies locally from tailors and shops in Muzaffarabad, creating seasonal income for families.
- Maintain fuel depots along key convoy routes for volunteer vehicles before snowfall closes access.
- Monitor child health cases through field clinics run in coordination with the Emergency Relief & Medical pillar.
Every pound is accounted for — from the warehouse to the household — ensuring transparency and trust for every UK donor.
Why Give Now
The next four weeks decide who receives help before the routes to Gurez and Upper Neelum seal until March. Once snow crosses two metres, even 4x4 convoys can’t return.
Your donation today means warmth tomorrow.
Your delay could mean none at all.
If you are a UK taxpayer, tick the Gift Aid box when donating. The government adds 25% more at no extra cost to you — turning £50 into £62.50.
That difference can provide another quilt, or shoes for Amina’s little brother, Usman.
❄️ Donate Now – Keep Families WarmA Line of Light in the Dark
The last morning before the convoy left, Amina stood outside, wrapped in her new coat. The frost glistened on her eyelashes as the sun broke through the peaks. She whispered,
“Abba, it’s not so cold anymore.”
For me, that was everything. Not because the temperature had changed — but because hope had returned.
To everyone who reads this, to everyone who gives from afar — know that your kindness is the warmth our valley waits for each year.
❄️ Donate Now – Keep Families WarmFAQs
1. Where is Phulwai located?
Phulwai lies in the Upper Neelum region of Azad Kashmir, near the Gurez Valley. It is known for its gemstones and extremely cold winters.
2. How severe are the winters there?
Temperatures drop to –10 °C or below, and snowfall can exceed 2.5 m, isolating entire communities for months.
3. How much does it cost to support one family?
A full winter pack with blankets, firewood and children’s coats costs £50.
4. Can I send used clothes instead of money?
No. Due to logistics and quality control, all items are purchased locally in Azad Kashmir to support the economy.
5. When is the last date for donations this year?
Donations must reach before 5 January 2026 to ensure delivery before the final convoys leave for Gurez and Upper Neelum. This deadline is just for that particular, the winter project will continue in other areas.
