In a modest mud house on the outskirts of Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Zarmina, an Afghan widow and mother of three, has faced the harshest challenges life can bring. Since losing her husband, she is the sole provider for her family, but she struggled to meet even their most basic needs. Clothes, food and electricity have become luxuries they cannot afford. She described her daily suffering and the difficulty of providing for her young children: “We struggle every day just to cover the essentials. Clothing, food and even electricity now feel like an unreachable dream.”

When devastating floods swept through Pakistan in 2022, their situation worsened. Their fragile home was severely damaged, and survival became even harder. Zarmina could no longer feed her children, and the fear of hunger followed them everywhere.

Amid these desperate conditions, aid from humanitarian organisations became a lifeline. MBRGI, in cooperation with UNHCR, offered vital food security in Pakistan. This support did not just change life for Zarmina and her children. It also reached many other refugee families affected by the floods, becoming a source of hope and a testament to the power of global humanitarian efforts.

Zarmina still faces challenges, but now she has a glimmer of hope that keeps her going. She knows that the world has not forgotten her and that there are people out there who are working to alleviate the suffering of refugees so they can build a more stable future.