Bringing Hope to the Valley That Gives Us Life: Relief Activities in Swat

Swat valley – popularly known as heaven on earth – is a land rich with culture and natural beauty. Along with being one of the most popular tourist spots, Swat valley is also land to the most hospitable people, who welcome these tourists with wide arms and warm hearts. As flash floods hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in August, this beautiful valley was amongst the hardest-hit regions. 

In Swat, cloudbursts and hill torrents swelled tributaries into sudden walls of water, scouring riverbanks and inundating fields and markets. Footbridges and link roads sustained repeated damage, isolating villages and limiting access to care. The geography of the region is one which makes accessibility hard even in normal times, and floods contributed in further destroying existing infrastructure. 

But Rizq was adamant to sustain and feed with dignity those who have warmly fed millions of tourists. It was time to give back to the land which has contributed to the joy and fulfillment of the rest of the country for years. We set up our second live kitchen in Mingora, Swat which prepared nutritious, freshly cooked meals for hundreds daily. Every meal was hygienically packed, and distributed via door-to-door deliveries across affected villages. 

We served a total of over 2,500 meals to displaced and affected families as well as aid workers. Rizq also partnered with local partners to distribute urgent medication and clothing in the region, as authorities raised concerns of dengue and other infections spreading. Our activities aimed to bring forth immediate relief to the lives of thousands.