Muhammad’s Story: Rebuilding After Floods in Pakistan
Muhammad lost his home in Pakistan's devastating floods. Read his story and learn how ShelterBox is supporting families after disaster.
Noor inside the shelter essential household items helping his family rebuild after the Afghanistan earthquakes.
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When a series of powerful earthquakes struck eastern Afghanistan in August 2025, entire communities were devastated.
Remote mountain villages were flattened. More than 2,000 people lost their lives. Thousands of homes collapsed, leaving families without shelter as winter approached. Nearly 23 million people – around half the population – needed humanitarian assistance.
In response, ShelterBox and Islamic Relief Afghanistan provided emergency shelter and essential household items to help families survive the harsh months ahead. Support included tents, winter clothing, thermal blankets, kitchen sets, stoves, solar lights and fire blankets.
For Noor and his family, that support arrived when they needed it most.
Noor's children, Sana (left) and Omar (right), inside the family tent they now call home after the Afghanistan earthquakes.
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A life built around family
52-year-old Noor lives in Chawkay District, Kunar Province, with his wife Laila and their five children: Hamid, Sana, Omar, Noor and Zoya.
Before the earthquakes, his days revolved around farming, caring for livestock and providing for his family. Their home had been built over many years and offered a sense of stability and comfort.
“We had lived in our home for more than 12 years,” Noor said. “Our home was a simple mudbrick house with three rooms.”
The family lived a peaceful and modest life, one they valued deeply. “Life was simple but full of comfort, routine and happiness.”
Damaged homes after the earthquakes in Afghanistan, 2025.
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When everything changed
On 31 August, powerful earthquakes struck eastern Afghanistan. As the ground began to shake, Noor’s focus immediately turned to getting his family to safety.
“The ground shook violently, and our home collapsed before our eyes,” Noor explained. “I grabbed my children and ran outside, but homes were falling everywhere and people were screaming.”
Around him, neighbours were trying to escape collapsing buildings as dust filled the air. “Dust covered everything, and we could barely breathe. We spent the night outside, cold and scared, holding onto each other.”
Although his family survived, they had lost their home and much of the security they had spent years building.
Noor outside the family tent that has helped provide shelter and stability after the Afghanistan earthquakes.
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Carrying the responsibility
What began as one terrifying night soon turned into weeks of uncertainty. The family’s shelter, belongings and many of the things they depended on for everyday life had gone.
As temperatures began to drop, Noor worried constantly about how he would protect and provide for his children.
“We had no shelter, no food and no way to keep warm,” he said. “Nights were especially hard; the cold wind made my children shiver, and they would wake me up crying.”
For Noor, the emotional impact was just as difficult as the physical challenges. “Fear and uncertainty were overwhelming. I felt the weight of responsibility for my family more than ever.”
Noor's nieces, Aisha (left) and Halima (right), inside the family tent with winter clothing and essential items provided after the earthquakes.
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A race against winter
As the family tried to come to terms with their loss, another challenge was approaching.
Winter in Afghanistan’s mountainous regions can be severe, with freezing temperatures and snowfall making daily life even more difficult. For Noor, the cold brought a new source of worry.
“The biggest challenge is protecting my children from the cold and keeping them healthy. Snow and wind make moving around difficult, and I worry every day as I see my children shiver and struggle to stay warm.”
With little protection from the weather and no certainty about what lay ahead, the family faced a long winter.
Noor waits alongside other community members during an aid distribution following the earthquakes in eastern Afghanistan.
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Support when it mattered most
ShelterBox and Islamic Relief Afghanistan supported Noor’s family with a tent and essential household items to help them through the months ahead.
The family received winter clothing, thermal blankets, kitchen sets, a stove, solar lights, fire blankets and other practical items designed to support daily life.
For Noor, the support brought relief at a time when he was struggling to see a way forward.
“These items are critical for surviving the cold winter and keeping my children safe and warm,” he said.
After months of uncertainty, the support helped ease some of the immediate worries facing the family and allowed Noor to focus on caring for his children.
Noor's older brother with Noor's youngest daughter, Zoya, inside the family tent where the family is rebuilding daily life after the earthquakes.
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Looking beyond winter
The support Noor received is helping his family cope with the immediate challenges ahead. But like many parents, he continues to think about what the future might hold for his children and the impact of a changing climate.
“Winters are colder, summers hotter, and rain comes unpredictably,” he explained. “Farming has become much harder, and life feels more uncertain, which worries me for my children’s future.”
Even so, Noor remains determined to rebuild his home and livelihood.
When asked what home means to him, Noor responded: “Home means safety and warmth. It is a place where my children can sleep without fear, eat warm food and feel secure.”
Asad, Noor's nephew, tries on a warm jumper, one of the items provided to help the family through the harsh Afghan winter.
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For Noor, home is about far more than walls and a roof. It is about protecting his family and creating a place where his children can feel safe again.
When support from ShelterBox arrived in Noor’s community, it helped provide a sense of reassurance for the future. “It gives me hope,” he said. “Knowing we will have a safe place to sleep, warm clothes and tools to cook hot meals makes me feel relieved, grateful and a little more confident that we can survive the winter.”
Looking further ahead, Noor hopes to rebuild his house, return to farming and create a more stable future for his family. “I dream of seeing my children safe and happy again and restoring our life with dignity.”
For the support his family received, he has one final message: “I am very thankful. Your support is saving our family from the harsh winter and helping us begin to rebuild our lives. We are grateful for everything you have done.”
What’s happening in Afghanistan?
Afghanistan was already facing a severe humanitarian crisis before the earthquakes struck. Conflict, drought and large-scale population movements had left millions of people in need of support.
The earthquakes added another layer of hardship, destroying homes and livelihoods just as winter approached.
Learn more about the Afghanistan earthquake response and how ShelterBox is supporting affected communities.
In Herat, Afghanistan, cash assistance from ShelterBox and INTERSOS gave Abdulqasim’s family the flexibility to buy materials, hire workers and continue rebuilding their home after returning to the country.
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