Winters in Azad Kashmir: A Season of Beauty and Hardship

A Land of Beauty and Bitter Cold

As winter sweeps across the snow-capped peaks of Azad Kashmir, breathtaking beauty descends upon the valleys. From the icy rivers of Muzaffarabad to the glistening slopes of Neelum Valley, it looks like a scene from paradise. Yet beneath this postcard perfection lies a struggle for survival.

When the first snow falls, entire villages are cut off from the world. Roads vanish beneath layers of ice. Communication lines fail. Temperatures drop to well below freezing. For families living in remote mountain communities, life turns from picturesque to perilous overnight.

According to the AJK at a Glance 2024 report, over 82 percent of Azad Kashmir’s population lives in rural areas, many in homes without proper insulation or heating. With temperatures plummeting below –10°C in Gurez Vally, winter becomes a test of endurance. For children, it’s often the difference between life and death.

Arifa’s Story: A Child Lost to the Snow

High in Tao Butt, at the far edge of Gurez Valley, lives a little girl named Arifa. She is nine years old, with bright eyes and a quiet determination that warms everyone around her. But when winter arrives, her world shrinks.

Once the roads to Tao Butt close, no vehicle can enter or leave for months. Even emergency medical aid can’t reach the valley. “The snow doesn’t just fall in Kashmir,” says Muhammad Mustafa, Head of Projects in Gurez Valley. “It traps families in isolation, turning every small cough into a crisis.”

Last January, Arifa fell ill with pneumonia. Her mother wrapped her in layers of blankets, praying through the night. The nearest clinic was several hours away — a journey no one could make through snow taller than a child. When our Kashmir Welfare Foundation team finally reached Tao Butt with winter kits, Arifa was recovering, but the family’s home was icy and damp. Her mother said quietly, “Without your blankets, I don’t think she would have survived.”

This is the reality for hundreds of families across Neelum Valley each winter. Beauty hides hardship. And survival depends on compassion.

The Hidden Cost of Cold

Data from the AJK Bureau of Statistics (2024) paints a sobering picture.

• There is only one doctor for every 3,886 people in Azad Kashmir.
• Population per hospital bed: 1,512.
• Many health centres close temporarily due to blocked roads.
• Families in Neelum and Hattian Bala report walking two to four hours to fetch clean water, even during snowstorms.

For children, the consequences are severe. Pneumonia, flu, and malnutrition rise sharply in winter. According to health data, respiratory infections alone account for over half a million OPD cases annually. These aren’t numbers — they are lives. Each one represents a story like Arifa’s.

Hope in the Snow: Our Mission This Winter

At Kashmir Welfare Foundation, we believe no child should have to choose between freezing and learning. Through the Winter Campaign, we are reaching the most remote and neglected areas of Azad Kashmir with warmth, dignity, and hope.

This year, our volunteers and local teams are delivering:
✅ Thermal jackets, hats, gloves, and scarves to keep children warm.
✅ Waterproof school bags to protect books and stationery.
✅ Winter bedding and blankets for families living in unheated homes.
✅ Fuel and firewood support in isolated villages.

Each item costs little, but its impact is immense.
For just £10, a child like Arifa can continue her education in warmth and comfort.

Winter 2025 at a Glance

📍 Regions Served: Muzaffarabad, Neelum, Poonch, Bagh
👧 Children Supported: 6,400
🧤 Winter Kits Distributed: 8,200
🏠 Families Reached: 2,900
🚚 Local Volunteers Deployed: 110

Every blanket delivered is a promise — that they are not forgotten.

In Kashmir, the cold doesn’t wait — and neither can we.
Your £10 gift today can bring life-saving warmth to a child like Arifa in Tao Butt.

The Strength of the Human Spirit

Despite the biting winds, there’s something else that fills these mountains — resilience. When roads close, communities like Tao Butt come alive in solidarity. Families share firewood. Neighbours melt snow for water. Teachers walk for miles to hold lessons in homes lit by lanterns.

In one such visit, trustee Parveen Kausar recalls,

“We met children writing their homework with numb fingers. Yet they smiled, saying they wanted to be doctors one day — to help others in their village.”

This unyielding spirit is why we keep returning, year after year. Winter may be harsh, but hope is stronger.

The Role of UK Donors: A Bridge of Mercy

The British-Kashmiri community has always been the backbone of our humanitarian mission. From Derby to Birmingham, donors have shown that generosity knows no borders.

Every pound donated in the UK stretches far in Kashmir. £10 can warm a child. £50 can heat an entire home. And when you tick the Gift Aid box, your donation increases by 25% at no extra cost — turning every £1 into £1.25 for Kashmir’s children.

“I give each winter because my parents came from these mountains,” says Asma, a UK donor from Bradford.
“When I see children walking barefoot in snow, I see my mother’s childhood.”

Your compassion carries warmth across oceans.

Why Winter Relief Matters More Than Ever

Climate data from AJK’s Environment Department shows that winters are becoming longer and harsher due to changing weather patterns. Floods in summer and snowstorms in winter are increasing in frequency. For regions like Neelum, this means shorter growing seasons, food insecurity, and limited heating resources.

Without urgent support, thousands risk hunger and cold-related illness each year. Winter aid isn’t charity — it’s a lifeline.

How Your Donation Helps

Transparency and trust are at the heart of everything we do. Here’s how your donation transforms lives:

• £10 – Winter clothing and waterproof school kit for one child.

Each pack is distributed directly through our verified network of project leads, including Zafer Iqbal in Kotli, Tahir Zia in Neelum, and Asam Ali in Muzaffarabad. All deliveries are monitored and recorded for transparency.

From Pain to Renewal

When our volunteers returned to Tao Butt this February, the snow was melting. Children ran outside, laughing. Arifa waved the same gloves she had received earlier that winter. She told us, “Now I can go to school again.”

That smile — that moment — is what your donations create.
In every corner of Kashmir, behind every closed road and frozen roof, your kindness is thawing despair into hope.

Give Now to the Winter Campaign

UK Gift Aid Reminder

If you are a UK taxpayer, please tick the Gift Aid box when donating. It adds 25% more to your gift at no extra cost, helping us reach even more children this winter. Your compassion becomes even warmer.

Why Give Now

Tonight, as you read this in a warm home, hundreds of children in Kashmir will sleep under thin blankets in sub-zero temperatures. Your donation can be the difference between shivering and smiling.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How cold does it get in Neelum Valley during winter?
Temperatures in Neelum Valley often fall below –10°C. Heavy snowfall isolates villages like Tao Butt for months, cutting off access to schools and medical facilities.

2. How much does it cost to help one child this winter?
Just £10 provides a complete winter kit including gloves, hat, scarf, and waterproof school bag to keep a child warm and able to continue school.

3. How does Kashmir Welfare Foundation deliver aid in remote areas?
We work with local teams and project leads who distribute aid directly within their communities, ensuring transparency and immediate impact even in isolated regions.

4. Can I donate my Zakat or Sadaqah to the Winter Campaign?
Yes, both Zakat and Sadaqah donations can be allocated to winter relief, helping provide warmth and essentials to families in need across Azad Kashmir.

5. What difference does Gift Aid make?
If you’re a UK taxpayer, ticking the Gift Aid box adds 25% to your donation at no extra cost, allowing us to reach more families during harsh winters.