The right help at the right time

Islamic Relief staff member interviews Haseena.

Haseena is 26 years old, and no stranger to overcoming a challenge. A paralyzed right leg makes working difficult, and she is in need of regular health care, including visits to the hospital.

Haseena lives with her family in an isolated village, surrounded by mountains, in the province of Balochistan, Pakistan.

On January 11, 2020, powerful rain and snowfall hit 14 districts in the province of Balochistan. The extreme weather, not typical to the area, prompted the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Balochistan to declare a state of emergency.

Many people living in rural areas were completely snowed in and cut off from markets, schools and hospitals.

Then, on February 26, the first Covid-19 case was reported in the city of Karachi, quickly spreading across Pakistan.

Haseena’s family, like many others in her village, were suffering from the double calamity — a weather disaster that damaged food stocks and water infrastructure and blocked off roads, and the impact of a global pandemic on a rural economy.

When her brothers lost their jobs due to Covid-19, Haseena lost her access to medical care.

“I have many health issues that need to be treated,” says Haseena, “but sometime I don’t even show it in front of the family as I know they don’t have the finances for my treatment.”

Humanitarian Coalition member Islamic Relief was the first organization to reach Haseena’s village. They cleared the roads of snow, and provided basic financial aid to those who needed it.

Some were able to buy livestock to sustain themselves, others were able to do some repairs on their homes. Haseena was finally able to go to the hospital and get the health care she so desperately needed, to the great relief of her worried mother.

“Today I am very happy as now she can go to hospital for treatment,” says Haseena’s mother. “Haseena is a very brave daughter of mine.”

“I am very happy for myself and the people I know in my village who received this cash support,” says Haseena. “It reached those who were in great need.”

“I want to thank the donors for supporting us during such testing times.”