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The remote Leepa Valley in AJ&K known for its astounding landscape and snow-clad rice paddies. Surrounded by high mountains, Leepa valley is not only hard to reach during winters but also a challenge to live during that time.
With the fears of cross border firing under harsh weather conditions, the struggles of local communities are unimaginable.
Hajra Bibi, who is a mother to three and also a widow has been through the most painful realities of life. All her children carry different types of disabilities.
The eldest son Rafique is intellectually disabled while Rubeena who is 22 years old has speech impairment while the youngest Mehwish has stunted growth.
“Have you seen this area? Look at the surrounding mountains and the snow, what I can do under these circumstances? There are no crops, no other source of income for us. It’s either the relatives or the neighbors who help me.”
— Hajra Bibi
The local communities migrate to other areas during the winters; however, that is also connected to the financial stability of the household.
Families like of Hajra solely rely on home fed chickens and some maize crop. Water availability is a huge issue as women have to fetch water from a spring at a 20 mins walk from the village.
“In this freezing cold weather, I go and fetch water twice a day. Whenever the firing starts, I take my children and rush to the nearby bunkers. You came to us with all these blankets, jackets, mats and shawls, believe me no one comes here and thinks about us.”
Islamic Relief Pakistan through its winterization project reached out to more than 600 families in Leepa with the support of local administration. IRP gave them warm clothes, blankets, floor mats, sweaters and shawls to provide comfort in these testing times.
Hajra a many other households are in need of development efforts and initiatives in Leepa and other remote parts of AJ&K.
