A Chilling Contrast
When we think of winter in the UK, images of cosy sweaters, steaming mugs of tea, and family gatherings often come to mind. But for the people of Azad Kashmir, winter is not a season of comfort. It is a season of survival.
As snow blankets the valleys and icy winds sweep across the mountains, thousands of families are left exposed to the cold. With little to no access to proper shelter, heating, or warm clothing, winter becomes a harsh test of endurance. For many, it is a matter of life and death.
Freezing Temperatures: A Daily Battle
The mercury in Azad Kashmir plummets to sub-zero levels each winter. Nights are unforgiving, and mornings begin with frost coating the fields and rooftops. For families living in poorly insulated homes or makeshift shelters, every breath of cold air feels like a cruel reminder of their hardship.
Children, the elderly, and widows suffer the most. Without warm clothing or adequate blankets, staying warm is nearly impossible. Families huddle together in dark corners, wrapping themselves in whatever scraps they can find, desperately trying to keep the cold at bay.
👉 You can help families survive the freezing cold. Support the Winter Appeal.
What Your Winter Donation Provides
Every pack is prepared in Kashmir and delivered by our volunteers to families facing freezing temperatures.
£50
Coats, jumpers, scarves, gloves, socks
Protects one family of five
£20
2 heavy quilts, waterproof sheets
Prevents hypothermia during extreme cold
£15
Wool hats, mittens, school jumper, shoes
Helps children attend school safely
£850
Warm essentials for up to 100 people – children, women & elderly
Supports 10–15 families in cut-off areas
Snowfall: Beauty That Brings Isolation
Snow transforms Azad Kashmir into a winter wonderland that rivals the Swiss Alps. But for those who live there, this beauty hides a brutal truth. Heavy snowfall blocks roads, cutting off villages for days or even weeks.
This isolation means no access to markets, schools, or hospitals. Pregnant women and the sick face terrifying risks, as emergency medical care becomes nearly impossible to reach. Families run out of food supplies, relying on humanitarian aid to survive the long weeks of snow.
👉 Your donation to the Winter Project ensures essential supplies like food packs, blankets, and heating fuel reach stranded families.
Power Outages: Living in Darkness
Electricity is unreliable in Azad Kashmir during winter. Icy winds damage fragile power lines, and entire communities are plunged into darkness for days. Without heating, homes turn into ice boxes. Families burn wood, scraps, or even plastic to generate warmth, risking their health in the process.
The sound of a power cut is silence, silence filled with fear, cold, and the cries of children shivering through the night.
Health Risks: When Cold Turns Deadly
Winter is not just uncomfortable, it is dangerous. Frostbite, hypothermia, and respiratory diseases rise dramatically. Pneumonia claims the lives of children every year. For elderly residents and vulnerable widows, the cold becomes a cruel enemy.
Access to healthcare is already limited in rural parts of Azad Kashmir. During winter, reaching a doctor can mean walking for miles through snow-covered paths. For many, help simply does not arrive in time.
👉 Give Sadaqah today to protect families from life-threatening illnesses: Donate Sadaqah.
Livelihoods Frozen: The Economic Toll
For farmers and labourers, winter disrupts livelihoods. Crops wither under frost, livestock die from exposure, and daily wage earners are forced to stay home. Families already living on the edge of poverty find themselves with no income during these harsh months.
Tourism, one of Kashmir’s main sources of income, also comes to a standstill. Where visitors once admired snowy landscapes, now only silence remains. The economy freezes along with the land.
Community Resilience: Standing Together
Despite the challenges, the people of Azad Kashmir are resilient. Communities come together to share firewood, food, and warmth. Neighbours check in on widows and orphans. Young volunteers trek through snow to deliver essentials to those most in need.
This resilience is inspiring, but it is not enough. Without external humanitarian aid, thousands of families will continue to suffer each winter. This is where the support of donors, especially the Kashmiri Diaspora and UK Muslim community, becomes life-saving.
👉 Join hands with Kashmir Welfare Foundation to deliver humanitarian aid this winter. Donate to Kashmir from UK.
Every donation you make is an act of mercy. Whether it is through Zakat, Sadaqah, or Regular Giving, your contribution can save lives.
Winter in Azad Kashmir is beautiful but brutal. It isolates, it freezes, and it endangers lives. Yet in the face of the cold, the people remain strong. With your support, we can turn their struggle into hope.
As you sit in the warmth of your home this winter, remember the families in Azad Kashmir who face freezing nights without shelter, food, or light. Together, we can bring warmth, comfort, and dignity to their lives.
