In the heart of Azad Kashmir’s mountains, where breathtaking beauty hides silent suffering, a medical crisis unfolds every day. When a child falls ill in Neelum Valley, or an accident happens on a mountain road in Bagh, help can take hours to arrive. For families living in these remote areas, the journey to the nearest hospital can be the difference between life and death. The Kashmir Welfare Foundation Ambulance is a lifeline.
For years, this was an unspoken reality. But today, thanks to the compassion of British donors and the tireless work of the Kashmir Welfare Foundation, emergency medical care has found its way to even the most isolated valleys.
What began as a small initiative has now become a lifeline that saves lives every single week.
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A Region Cut Off from Care
While Azad Kashmir is known for its scenic beauty, its healthcare statistics tell another story. According to AJ&K at a Glance 2024, the region has a population of over 4.46 million, yet only 2,950 hospital beds. That’s one bed for every 1,512 people. There are just 1,148 doctors across ten districts—one doctor for every 3,886 residents.
Ambulances, the most basic link in any emergency response chain, number fewer than 2,600 across the entire region. In places where roads are narrow, steep, and often blocked by landslides or snow, reaching help in time is nearly impossible.
For families in villages like Tao Batt, Ajira, or Kel, the question isn’t “Where is the hospital?” but “Can we survive until we get there?”
The Kashmir Welfare Foundation decided to change that.
The Birth of a Lifeline – The Ambulance
In 2024, the Foundation launched its Emergency Medical Services network—a fleet of fully equipped ambulances operating across Azad Kashmir. From Muzaffarabad to Bagh and Neelum Valley, and most recently in Khadimabad, Dadyal, these ambulances are rewriting what access to healthcare looks like in the mountains.
Each ambulance is a miniature hospital on wheels. Inside, oxygen cylinders, defibrillators, and medical gases stand ready. Paramedics trained in trauma response and emergency stabilisation work alongside local drivers who know every dangerous bend and cliffside route.
When every second counts, their skill and courage save lives that might otherwise be lost.
Ambulance Built for the Mountains
Emergency vehicles in London or Manchester glide through flat, well-paved roads. But in Kashmir, ambulances must climb treacherous slopes, cross rivers, and squeeze through narrow dirt tracks. That’s why the Kashmir Welfare Foundation uses vehicles specifically adapted to the terrain.
Our Suzuki Bolan ambulances are small, light, and perfectly suited to rugged mountain paths. For long-distance journeys, we deploy converted Toyota Hiace vans equipped with advanced life-support equipment. Each conversion follows British safety standards, ensuring durability and safety even in the most extreme conditions.
These ambulances aren’t just transport—they are hope in motion.
A Night in Khadimabad: A Mother’s Story
It was a cold, wet night in Khadimabad, Dadyal, when 26-year-old Naseem went into labour. Her family panicked as her condition worsened. They had no vehicle, and the nearest clinic was miles away through narrow, slippery roads. Desperate, they called the Kashmir Welfare Foundation ambulance for help.
Our team reached her quickly and transferred her to Dadyal Hospital, but it soon became clear that she needed urgent specialist care. The paramedics made the difficult decision to continue the journey to Islamabad, battling heavy rain and poor visibility through the night.
Despite every effort, Naseem’s baby was stillborn. Doctors confirmed that malnutrition and delayed access to care had worsened her complications—a reality faced by many expectant mothers in Kashmir’s isolated mountain villages.
Her story is one of heartbreak, but also of truth. It reminds us why the Foundation’s work matters—why reaching vulnerable mothers before crisis strikes can mean the difference between life and loss.
For every Naseem, there are countless others we can still save—if help arrives in time.
Update: Our Khadimabad Ambulance has now been moved to Neelum Valley. We are searching for a donor to sponsor a Toyota Hiace Ambulance for this area. Can you help?
A Second Chance in Neelum Valley
In Neelum Valley, where roads often disappear beneath snow, a young student named Ayaan suffered a severe head injury after slipping near a construction site. There was no clinic nearby and no vehicle to carry him. A neighbour contacted the Kashmir Welfare Foundation’s helpline, and within half an hour, an ambulance arrived from the valley centre.
The trained paramedics stabilised him using oxygen and splints before transferring him to Muzaffarabad. Ayaan made a full recovery. His mother later said, with tears in her eyes:
“That ambulance was sent by Allah through your donors in Britain. You didn’t just save my son—you saved our family.”
These are not isolated stories. They are happening every month across Azad Kashmir, made possible by the mercy and generosity of people in the United Kingdom who have never forgotten where their roots lie.
The British-Kashmiri Connection: Giving Back Home
The Kashmir Welfare Foundation is proudly rooted in the British-Kashmiri diaspora. For decades, families in Bradford, Birmingham, London, and Glasgow have supported causes in their ancestral homeland. Their donations build schools, fund orphan sponsorships, and now, keep ambulances running across the mountains.
Through Gift Aid, UK taxpayers can increase their donation by 25%—turning every £100 into £125 at no extra cost. That difference pays for a tank of fuel, an oxygen refill, or new medical supplies for the next life-saving mission.
When British donors give, they are not simply donating—they are reconnecting. Their compassion drives across the valleys in the form of ambulances, bringing the spirit of humanity home to Kashmir.
