Ruqaiya’s life took a challenging turn 10 years ago when she fell on ice, resulting in paralysis in one of her legs and a hand. “I couldn’t get medical help in time because we didn’t have enough money. Now I can’t use my hand or leg anymore,” says Ruqaiya, a 65-year-old mother of three sons and grandmother of two. 

In Bamyan province in Afghanistan, Ruqaiya lives with her family of eight. Despite living with a disability, she helps care for her youngest son, who has a hand impairment. Despite 13-year-old Hamid’s impairment, he loves attending school. “It breaks my heart when I cannot provide for his basic school needs,” she explains. Her two oldest sons work as porters in Kabul, which is far from home, and where they barely make enough to get by, let alone support a large family.  

Prior to Ruqaiya’s accident, she was known for her skill in wool rug weaving, through which she earned a decent income. However, her paralysis means she’s unable to weave, leaving her in an unstable financial position. Even though the family owns a small piece of land, the ongoing drought in the region has made it impossible for them to grow wheat, which was also once a source of income for them. 

Their survival relied entirely on the occasional money sent by her sons, which allowed them to purchase necessities like rice or potatoes. Without it, bread became their only source of sustenance.

Ruqaiya and her family found much-needed relief through cash assistance provided by PWS&D’s partner in Afghanistan (name withheld for security reasons). With the monthly cash distributions, Ruqaiya was able to purchase essential groceries such as oil, pulses, flour, rice, and salt. 

This initiative, which receives support from Canadian Foodgrains Bank and its members, as well as the Global Affairs Canada, has been a lifeline for families like Ruqaiya’s. Over the harsh winter, 1,870 households are receiving five months of cash assistance to purchase food and address essential needs.  

With the aid easing the immediate burden of securing food, Ruqaiya could allocate the limited income from her sons to another essential need—fuel—ensuring warmth during the harsh winter months.

Ruqaiya is deeply gratitude for the support that has allowed her to put food on the table and keep her home warm.

To help support this project, click the link below and select Afghanistan Relief in the dropdown menu.