Case Study
A WIDOW’S APEAL FOR SURVIVAL AND SUPPORT
Ameeran Khantoon, a widow of the late Ghulam Hyder, resides in Shahpur UC, Taluka Jacobabad. She is an elderly woman facing extreme poverty and financial distress. With no stable source of income, she struggles daily to meet the basic needs of her family. Her daughter is of marriageable age but remains unmarried due to the family’s inability to arrange a dowry.
Similarly, her son faces difficulties in securing a livelihood. Ameeran, who once worked as a laborer, is now unable to earn due to her old age and deteriorating health. She is entirely dependent on the goodwill of villagers for food and basic necessities, making her survival extremely precarious. Ameeran’s home has been repeatedly destroyed by natural disasters, including the devastating flash floods of 2010 and 2022. These calamities left her without proper shelter, forcing her to live in a severely damaged house that offers little protection against harsh weather conditions. The repeated destruction of her home has eroded her ability to recover, leaving her in a state of perpetual displacement. Without a secure roof over her head, she is highly vulnerable to further environmental hazards, poor health conditions, and social insecurity. Her desperate situation underscores the urgent need for intervention from development actors, government agencies, or humanitarian organizations. She hopes for assistance to rebuild her home and secure a stable living environment that would provide her with dignity and security.
Ameeran urgently requires immediate assistance in three critical areas: shelter, livelihood, and social support for her daughter’s marriage. She seeks philanthropic or humanitarian aid to establish a small enterprise that would allow her to regain financial independence. A sustainable income source would enable her to provide for her family and secure a future for her children. Furthermore, she requires access to social welfare programs that can support her in accessing food, healthcare, and basic utilities.
Moreover, support in arranging a dowry for her daughter would alleviate a major burden, enabling her to get married and secure a better life. Given her dire circumstances, Ameeran hopes that concerned individuals, NGOs, or government programs will step forward to provide the necessary support, helping her transition from dependency to self-sufficiency. A long-term intervention, including vocational training, financial literacy programs, and access to microfinance initiatives, could help her and her family break the cycle of poverty and achieve sustainable development.
Ameeran’s story is a reflection of the harsh realities faced by many widows and impoverished families in rural Pakistan. Without external intervention, her condition is unlikely to improve, and she will continue to live in extreme hardship. It is imperative that development agencies, government bodies, and philanthropic individuals recognize her plight and extend the necessary support to help her rebuild her life. Assistance in housing, income generation, and social protection will not only uplift Ameeran but also contribute to the broader goal of poverty alleviation and social welfare. Urgent action is needed to provide her with the means to live a dignified life and secure a hopeful future for her children.
A Farmer Appeal
Introduction Mr. Irshad Ahmed, son of Abdullah, is a small-scale farmer cultivating five acres of agricultural land in Mola Bux Khoso, Union Council Shahpur. He lives with his six family members, including two sisters who are under his care. Despite his determination to support his family, he has been battling chronic illness, making physical labor extremely challenging.
Impact of Natural Disasters Mr. Irshad’s agricultural livelihood suffered severe setbacks in 2010 and again in 2022 due to devastating flash floods. The 2022 floods completely destroyed his house, forcing him and his family to evacuate and seek shelter along the roadside for four months. During this period, his children faced severe health challenges, contracting life-threatening diseases due to unhygienic living conditions. Additionally, his livestock, including goats and poultry, were lost in the floods, further exacerbating his struggles.
Financial Hardship Before the 2022 flood, Mr. Irshad had taken a loan of PKR 500,000 from a local landlord to purchase pesticides and support his agricultural activities. Unfortunately, the floods wiped out his entire cultivation, leaving him in severe debt and with no source of income. Being chronically ill and physically unable to engage in manual labor, he now finds himself in a dire situation, struggling to provide basic necessities for his family.
Appeal for Support Mr. Irshad is making a heartfelt appeal to philanthropists, landlords, and local and international donors for assistance in rebuilding his life. He urgently requires shelter and livelihood support to secure a sustainable future for his family. He is particularly seeking aid to establish a small business that would enable him to generate a steady income and provide for his loved ones.
Despite his hardships, Mr. Irshad remains hopeful that compassionate individuals and organizations will step forward to support him in overcoming these challenges and rebuilding his life with dignity.