Stories of hope

With World Vision's support lives have been changed even in the most difficult circumstances

Read the stories below to learn more about how, with your support, World Vision can continue to work in emergency situations providing help and assistance to the most vulnerable.

Pakistan - Extraordinary generosity in desperate times

Rizwan Ali, 59, lives in a rural village in Buner, northwest Pakistan. He sent a truck to pick up people fleeing violence when he heard about those displaced in nearby villages. As a result of sharing everything he has, he may soon face extreme poverty.

“It will be easier to die than to ask displaced people to leave for the camps. It will be heartbreaking and will feel as though the earth has caved in on us.”

“I’m exhausted,” he says. “We have to play so many roles: host, provider, security, breadwinner.”
Families taking in hundreds of thousands now face a desperate situation where their hospitality puts their own livelihoods and survival on the brink. But this is the generosity of hosts here in Pakistan. A cultural and deeply rooted code that means you share everything you have with those in need, whoever they are.

One of those picked up by Rizwan Ali’s truck was 12-year-old Salman, and more than 30 members of her family who had walked 20km across rugged mountain paths leading away from the frontlines.

This is one of the largest and quickest displacements of people the world has ever seen. Only we haven’t really seen it. More than two million people are out of sight, absorbed into homes with up to 25 people in one room. Many are suffering under 40 degree heat with no access to clean water, shelter, food or healthcare. Most fleeing war have taken refuge with people they have never met before or are only loosely connected through cultural ties, extended family or shared trades.

Salman’s experience will resonate with each and every person that has had to leave their home, leaving loved ones, school or jobs behind. “I pray to God that our happy days would come back,” Salman said. “I want to be back in my village running in the fields, playing with friends and going to my school.”

Those who fled shelling mostly arrive with nothing. They speak of the extraordinary generosity of their hosts: “Our host has done a beautiful thing in taking us in and providing for us. He has given us food and shelter, but most of all he has given us our dignity,” says one of Rizwan’s guests.

Returning home with new hope

The first of some two million Pakistanis that were displaced by the Swat valley conflict have begun to return home. This most recent change in situation has so far seen 900 families reach their homes in various districts.

The laughter and singing of children can be heard from many of the buses bringing people back home. Regardless of the fear of returning home and the uncertainty of what they may find, the anticipation of coming home is something many have long hoped for.

So far World Vision has helped people like Rizwan Ali and his many guests, by supplying them with bedding, kitchen utensils, hygiene kits, pillows and shelter kits, food packs, water purifiers, female hygiene kits and cash vouchers. In addition latrines have been constructed and Child Friendly Spaces have been set up. “Whilst the target of the response in the past few weeks has been those displaced and their host families, World Vision is now shifting the focus to returnees and stayees.” Angelina Theodora, Programme Officer, GRRT (Global Rapid Response Team).

“Our mission statement in this response is ‘Aid with Dignity’ for those that are returning home after being displaced who are very brave and face the hardest of times in their lives right now,” said Aziz-ur-Rehman, Operations Manager, World Vision Pakistan.

If you feel compelled to pledge to the ongoing need for aid and relief work in Pakistan you can do so here.