Neelum Valley Under Snow: Life Cut Off from the World

The Road to Neelum

We left Muzaffarabad before dawn, the truck stacked with winter packs—coats, quilts, and food parcels. By Athmuqam the tarmac was white, and by Kel it had vanished. The air burned our lungs. The radio warned of more snow, yet turning back meant leaving hundreds alone in the cold.

I am one of dozens of Kashmir Welfare Foundation volunteers who travel these roads each year. The journey isn’t heroic; it’s necessary. When we carry warmth through the storm, we’re carrying the hope that someone in the UK cared enough to send it.

“Each step felt heavier than the last,” said Tahir beside me, brushing ice from his beard. “But somewhere ahead a mother waits for that blanket.”

When Beauty Becomes Isolation

To visitors, Neelum Valley looks like a postcard—pine forests, frozen rivers, silver peaks. But beauty hides hardship. Once heavy snow falls, avalanches block the passes and landslides bury the roads. For four months each year, families in Tao Butt, Janwai, and other mountain hamlets live in complete isolation.

According to the AJ&K Statistical Yearbook 2024, more than 72 % of rural homes rely on wood or dried dung for heating. Fuel runs out fast. Children stop attending school, elders fall ill, and food stores freeze solid.

In 2024 over 10 000 people were trapped for at least six weeks. For them, winter is not a season—it’s a siege.

Inside a Frozen Home

When we reached Tao Butt, snow reached our knees. In one timber shack we met Nisar Ahmad, his wife Zehra, and their three children huddled around a small stove.

“We burn anything we find,” he said, showing pieces of cardboard. “Last week it was furniture.”

We unpacked the winter pack—thick coats, wool socks, gloves, scarves. Zehra pressed a coat to her face and whispered, “It smells of kindness.”

For a moment, the room glowed. The warmth wasn’t from firewood but from faith—the belief that strangers cared.

Why Neelum Matters

Neelum Valley is among the poorest regions of AJK. Most families live on under £75 a month, surviving on summer labour. When snow cuts access, earnings stop. Illness spreads. Children lose entire school terms.

That’s why Kashmir Welfare Foundation’s Winter Campaign is not charity—it’s protection. It gives the valley a fighting chance until spring.

The Journey Back Down

When distribution finished, the storm thickened. Our descent was slow; tyres slid, wind howled, and the valley disappeared behind curtains of white. At one bend an avalanche scar cut across the forest—nature’s reminder of power and fragility.

Every mile down I thought of families we couldn’t reach, homes beyond ridges we’d never see. When we finally returned to Muzaffarabad and unloaded the last boxes, I whispered a quiet dua:
“Ya Allah, keep them warm, make our efforts enough.”

That prayer stays with every volunteer long after the snow melts.

Building Readiness for 2026

Relief is never the end; it’s the beginning of preparation. As soon as spring arrives, the Foundation’s teams revisit remote villages to plan ahead.

In 2025 we began establishing Winter Hubs—reinforced community halls in Kel and Sharda storing blankets, fuel, and clothing before roads close. Each hub supports up to 100 families.

Local women now run tailoring circles that stitch school jumpers and woollen hats for the Cozy Kids Project, creating income while equipping children.

“We don’t want to wait for help,” says Shazia Bibi, one of the tailors. “We want to be ready.”

Early readiness saves lives—and restores dignity.

Local Heroes of the Valley

Behind every delivery are faces few will know:

“I’ve seen children run barefoot in snow, then laugh when they get shoes,” says Imran Yousaf, Leepa sector volunteer.

“One scarf can stop frostbite. One quilt can save a baby’s life,” adds Samina Khan, Haveli community worker.

They are the quiet heroes who turn donations into warmth. Their courage ensures that aid keeps moving even when the mountains say stop.

Faith and Gratitude

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Whoever relieves the hardship of a believer in this world, Allah will relieve his hardship on the Day of Resurrection.” (Muslim 2699)

Giving warmth is an act of Iman. Your Sadaqah, Zakat, or Regular Giving shields families from the cold and shields you with reward.

Add Gift Aid and your £20 becomes £25 — at no cost to you, but life-changing to them.

Transparency and Impact

Last winter:

• 3,547 winter kits distributed across Neelum and Haveli
• 94 % of aid reached within 30 days of donation
• Zero wastage verified by local committees (2024)

Every pack is logged, photographed, and reported so donors know exactly where their help goes. We will provide a full report of our winter activities mid season and at the end of the season, Insha'Allah.

Why Give Now

The first major snowfall often hits by late November. After that, delivery costs triple and access vanishes. Donating early keeps convoys ahead of the storm.

“If we reach them before the storm, we save them from it.”
— Tahir Zia, Volunteer

UK Donors — Your Impact Matters

Every pound from the UK travels farther than any truck. It crosses mountains and snowdrifts to reach homes without light. You are the unseen warmth in every valley.

From London to Leepa, from Birmingham to Bagh, your compassion turns miles into miracles.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How are supplies delivered once roads close?
Pre-positioned stocks in Kel and Athmuqam allow teams to walk or use sleds for final delivery. This is why we prepare in advance of the winter season.

2. Can I send used clothes from the UK?
No. Historically, when clothes collections were organised in the UK, a large portion of items were unusable. Storing and shipping them also required hiring warehouse space and paying for freight, which made the process costly and less efficient.

We have therefore chosen to focus entirely on online donations, allowing us to source warm clothing locally in Azad Kashmir and deliver it quickly to the families who need it most. This ensures better quality, faster response, and zero wastage.

3. Is my donation Zakat-eligible?
Yes, we verify recipients under Islamic guidelines before distribution.

4. What is the deadline for this year’s appeal?
We aim to dispatch all kits by 5th January 2025, before roads to the furthest locations become impassable. These remote areas are still accessible right now, but as time goes on, the mountain routes will close. Once that happens, we shift our focus to the closer valleys — though the families most in need are always the ones farthest away.

This appeal will automatically close before Ramadan 2026.

5. How can I see impact updates?
You will be able to see detailed reports and case studies in our blog section. We make an extra effort to publish updates here so that anyone who truly wishes to learn more can access the information at any time. This approach ensures transparency without overwhelming donors with mass mailouts.

It also helps us identify engaged readers and supporters who genuinely want to follow the progress of our projects. Many of our donors are international, and publishing these updates online means that everyone, everywhere, can see the impact their kindness has made.