Humanity faces ‘polycrisis’ shaped by climate, urbanization, weakened multilateralism

By the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate CentreAs theGlobal Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction(GPDRR) ended in Geneva on Friday, IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain renewed his call for the urgent matching of investment in earlywarningwith capacity toact.It’s still the case that “one in three disasters strikes without a formal public warning”,he added on social media, citing new IFRC research: “No lives should be lost in a predictable disaster.”Mr Chapagain added to itscall to actionto the platform issued earlier by pledging the IFRC would “continue its efforts as a partner in the [UN-led] Early Warnings for All initiative, which aims to ensure everyone on Earth is protected by early-warning systems by 2027. However, significant work is still required to reach this critical goal.”The week-long session of the GPDRR – the eighth overall but the first since the mid-term review of progress on implementation of the Sendai Framework – concluded that “countries have made significant progress, but challenges remain,” the UN said.The closingco-chairs’ summarysaid the “world faces a polycrisis with growing risk-complexity, shaped by climate change, rapid urbanization and weakened multilateralism [but] disaster risk reduction offers a solution to addressing overlapping crises.”In the summary, host nation Switzerland called for accelerated implementation of Sendai and a bridging of the “financial gaps hindering disaster risk reduction by mobilizing diverse funding sources, including climate finance.”The GPDRR’s eight-pointGeneva Call for Disaster Risk Reduction, linked in the chairs’ summary, advocates “[i]ncreasing funding for disaster risk reduction … to generate benefits across the development, humanitarian and climate agendas.”‘One in three disasters strikes without a formal public warning’Mr Chapagain also spoke at a GPDRR special event on extreme heat – an area of heightened concern this year – calling for a focus on what his called the “three P’s”: people, places and partnerships, stressing that local response was the best way to meetthe growing heatwave threat.He shared that platform with WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo and others at the session, which was intended contribute to the ongoing development of a common framework for the governance on extreme heat.Among National Societies contributing to the GPDRR week, the Spanish Red Cross was among the speakers at a side-event organized by the IFRC and the American Red Cross on “leveraging locally led good practice for expandingnature-based solutionsfor disaster and climate risk”.Guinbe Arnaud from the Chad Red Cross took an ignite stage session on work with mothers’ clubs there, and the Lebanese and Malawi Red Cross and the Somali Red Crescent were also represented.The three days of the ignite stage included a tribute to the latePablo Suarezfrom Bruno Haghebaert, a DRR specialist at Belgium’s Ghent University, who suggested ways his legacy could be continued for “creative risk communication”.The IFRC’s research coordinator, Gefra Fulane, took an ignite session on itsCommunity Trust Index; its Senior Officer for DRR, Blessed Mbang, took another on its road map for community resilience; and the Climate Centre’s Technical Adviser, Tesse de Boer, outlined opportunities for scaling up “multi-risk anticipatory action”.Helen Gambon of theSwiss NGO DRR platform, hosted by the Red Cross, jointly organized a thematic session moderated by the IFRC’s Caroline Holt, its Director of Disaster, Climate and Crises, centring on the changes “required to governance structures, finance mechanisms, science, technology and partnerships to enhancedisaster preparedness for resilient recovery”.Jagan Chapagain’s other contributions included a special session onminimizing climate-related loss and damageand a thematic session onbuilding resilience in complex settings.‘A little bit of creativity goes a long way in sparking meaningful dialogue on DRR and adaptation’The Climate Centre’s Catalina Jaime, who leads its work on climate and conflict, moderated a preparatory-days session onmulti-hazard early warning systems in fragile, conflict- and violence-affected (FCV) settings; she also spoke at another session onlocalizing DRR.She told delegates that this year’s GPDRR was seeing “increased attention to populations affected by the horrors of war and how their suffering increases vulnerabilities to disasters”.Climate Centre Director Aditya Bahadur, who followed the GPDRR online, said today that in the round, “GPDRR represented a welcome shift toward under-addressed but critical areas: multi-hazard early warning, heat risk, locally led action, and risk reduction in FCV settings.“Newly available Red Cross Red Crescent resources like thehandbookfor working in FCV areas or thetoolkitfor anticipatory action in them were referenced across plenaries and side events. It’s great to see these gaining traction – now it’s time to put them to use and drive lasting context-sensitive action.“I was glad to see the IFRC-Climate Centre innovation booth became a real hotspot – organized and managed by our anticipatory action lead, Irene Amuron – proving again that a little bit of creativity goes a long way in sparking meaningful dialogue on the future of DRR and adaptation.”Videos highlighting National Society work on risk reduction on show at the booth includedcommunity radio in Uganda,early warning in Bangladesh,Nepal, andworldwide, andanticipatory cash assistance in Nepal.Recent articles about disaster risk reduction within the IFRC network:Ready for the rains: Philippine Red Cross scales up emergency preparedness ahead of typhoon seasonIFRC: In a climate of shrinking funds and increasing risk, it’s time to shift priorities and get ahead of disasters‘Now we know what to do’: Boosting local flood preparedness in ZimbabweLearn more about IFRC's approach to:Disasters, climate and crisisDisaster and crisis preparednessClimate-smart disaster risk reduction

Ready for the rains: Philippine Red Cross scales up emergency preparedness ahead of typhoon season

As the Philippines prepares for another rainy season, which typically sees an average of 20 typhoons each year—of which eight to nine make landfall—the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is once again taking the lead in disaster preparedness and response. Supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and its membership, PRC is intensifying its efforts to protect the country's most vulnerable communities.According to the 2024 World Risk Index (WRI), the Philippines has been ranked as the most disaster-prone country in the world for the 16th consecutive year, facing a complex array of threats including typhoons, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, and conflicts. In anticipation of these challenges, the PRC has strategically prepositioned life-saving resources and activated community-based volunteer networks across the nation.“Preparedness saves lives, and PRC’s readiness today is a reflection of decades of investment in local capacity, supported by Movement partners,” said Gwendolyn Pang, Secretary General of the Philippine Red Cross.The PRC operates through its 101 chapters and a 24/7 Operations Centre, coordinating more than a million trained volunteers and staff. With support from the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF), the PRC has increased its warehouse stock of relief items, ready for rapid deployment through its extensive logistics fleet, which includes eight regional warehouses, 140 ambulances, 29 water tankers, 36 food trucks, amphibious vehicles, rescue boats, response motorcycles, as well as a dedicated drone and satellite internet communications network. In addition, the organization maintains 17 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) hubs equipped with mobile purification systems and emergency water bladders—crucial resources as storm surges and floods increasingly impact coastal communities and landslide situations in mountainous areas.Emergency medical services have been fully mobilized, featuring three field hospitals, 128 medical tents, and 5,700 medical corps volunteers. These services are supported by 109 blood facilities, mobile health units and vaccination buses, along with agreements with the Department of Health and private transport companies to enhance mass casualty readiness. Central to the PRC's efforts is its Red Cross 143 program, which trains local leaders and at least 44 volunteers in each barangay (village). This grassroots network is essential for disseminating early warning messages, conducting rapid assessments, and providing first response during typhoons, floods, and landslides.Furthermore, PRC has pioneered anticipatory action with Early Action Protocols (EAPs) for typhoons and floods, enabling interventions up to 72 hours before a disaster strikes. In 2024 alone, shelter strengthening kits were installed in advance of Typhoon Marce in Cagayan and Super Typhoon Pepito in Aurora, Quirino, Isabela, and Northern Samar, minimizing damage and protecting families.These proactive measures have been made possible through the IFRC’s anticipatory funding mechanisms, which allocated nearly CHF 535,000 for readiness and pre-emptive relief. The Philippine Red Cross’s ability to act swiftly relies on the continued support of its partners.From early action financing to long-term resilience programming, sustained investments are necessary to keep communities safe as climate threats intensify.“We’re proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with PRC,” said Sanjeev Kafley, Head IFRC Country Delegation. “Their leadership in anticipatory action and community preparedness is not only saving lives but also setting a global benchmark.” He added “In light of the six consecutive cyclones in six weeks' time span that impacted the country last year, it is imperative that we collectively strengthen coordination among all stakeholders. Doing so will ensure effective resource mobilization and timely dissemination of critical information to those most in need. We reiterate the need to reinforce collaboration, invest in preparedness, and remain proactive in safeguarding the most vulnerable populations.”As the skies darken and storms loom, the Philippine Red Cross stands ready—not just to respond, but to take action before, during, and after disasters strike. Always first, always ready, always there.

Overcoming barriers: Red Cross language classes help displaced Ukrainians open doors to a new life

Financial insecurity, unemployment, limited access to healthcare, and language barriers are everyday challenges for millions of people who fled Ukraine after the escalation of the conflict.While finding safety is a critical first step, the harder journey often begins after — rebuilding a life in a new country, surrounded by an unfamiliar language and culture.To support this journey, Red Cross National Societies in Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, and Romania have launched language programs that go far beyond grammar and vocabulary.These classes are helping displaced people from Ukraine find their voices — giving them the tools they need to access work, education, healthcare, and, perhaps most importantly, a sense of belonging.The projecthas been made possible by the Swiss Contribution to the European Union under the Rapid Response Fund. This initiative aims to reduce social and economic disparities within the European Union.‘At 57, I’m starting over’One of those taking part in the classes is Iryna, who never imagined she’d be learning a new language at 57 — or starting over in a new country. Now living in Latvia with her daughter-in-law and grandson, she attends Latvian courses run by the Latvian Red Cross.“I lack speaking practice, so I eagerly signed up,”she says. “We have a great teacher.”Iryna’s family fled Kharkiv when the conflict escalated, spending days sheltering in a village basement with other families before finally boarding crowded evacuation trains. Eventually, they made it to Latvia.Life in a new country hasn’t been easy. Back home, Iryna worked as a chief accountant. Now, she works as a cleaner in a theater — a job she is grateful for, even if it is far from her field. “To return to my profession, I need to know the language,” she explains.But she finds joy in small moments. “At the theater, I get to watch pre-premiere shows and chat with the actors,” she adds with a smile.‘I never thought I’d need another language'Vadym, 55, from Mykolaiv, fled Ukraine with his family after the conflict escalated. Their journey to Romania took three days. “It was difficult,” he recalls. “We had never been abroad before, so I never thought I’d need to learn another language.”Before the escalation of the conflict, Vadym worked at the port — a skilled job that remains in demand. But in Romania, the language barrier stands in the way of continuing in his profession.Now, he attends Romanian language classes organized by the Romanian Red Cross. “It is helpful. We talk about different topics in class, and now I can go to the store and explain myself at a basic level,” he says.‘I was afraid — how would I explain if my child got sick?’For nearly three years, Mila and her son have been living in Hungary after fleeing Ukraine. She still remembers the fear and the long queues at the border. Everything felt uncertain — and without speaking the language, even the simplest tasks felt overwhelming.“I was afraid — what if my child got sick? How would I explain things to a doctor?” she recalls.When Mila learned the Hungarian Red Cross offered free language classes, she joined right away.“I came to the course and really liked it,” she says. “I met other Ukrainians, learned a lot of useful things from them, and we started talking more.”Being able to practice Hungarian in a supportive space has made a big difference. “Now I can go to the store, the pharmacy, or any office on my own — and get things done,” she says.Mila’s confidence is growing with every lesson. “When I reach a better language level, I plan to find a job here,” she says, full of hope for a more stable future.‘To find a well-paid job without knowing the language is impossible’When the conflict escalated, Yuliia left Zaporizhzhia with her two children, hoping to give them a safer life.“I wanted my children to grow up in peace, in a country without fear,” she says.Later, her mother joined them in Lithuania. Both women found work as cleaners — honest, important work that helped them start over. But Yuliia knows that speaking the language is key to opening more doors.“To find a well-paid job without knowing the language is impossible,” she says.That is why she and her mother now attend Lithuanian language classes run by the Lithuanian Red Cross.“I can already talk to people who do not speak Russian,” Yuliia shares. “It is still hard to speak freely, but I understand.”For Yuliia, Iryna, Vadym and Mila — and for many others taking part in these classes learning the local language is not just about communication. It is about regaining control, rebuilding dignity — and taking the first steps toward a future they can shape themselves.

World Hunger Day: Drought driving hunger and desperation in the Horn of Africa

By Timothy Maina, IFRC, Officer, CommunicationsAs the sole provider for her household of ten, 45-year-old Mama Mako Rooble Mataan bears the immense responsibility of sustaining her entire family. Her goats, once a reliable source of sustenance, now struggle to find a place with enough grass to graze.Standing nearby the almost completely dry well, her voice was filled with worry."The weather has become so unpredictable," she explains, her gaze sweeping across a dried-up riverbed.Alongside Mama Mako was a team from theSomali Red Crescent Society (SRCS), which was there to conduct field assessments on the impacts of prolonged drought in the area, including in Mama Mako’s village, called Il-Hagar, in Somaliland’s Awdal region.Three consecutive years of failed rains have pushed the Horn of Africa to the brink of catastrophe. Seasonal forecasts from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development's Climate Prediction Centre (ICPAC) warn the 2025 Gu rains (April-June) may be 55 per cent below average, threatening water access and food production. Over 3.8 million people now face acute food insecurity.The cracked earth and dry togs (seasonal riverbeds) tell the story. Shrubby, jagged hills and mountains stand over sun-scorched plains after failed Deyr rains (October-November) were followed by a harsh Jilal dry season (December-March).Recognizing the escalating disaster, the SRCS activated itsEarly Action Protocols (EAPs) for drought, triggering rapid assessments and preemptive aid delivery of aid and cash grants to 1,330 households to address urgent food and medical needs. The crisis has since triggered a 984,393 Swiss Franc allocation from the IFRC’sDisaster Response Emergency Fund(IFRC-DREF), to deliver life-saving support over six months to 5,800 families (approximately 34,800 people) in Somaliland and Puntland.The scaled-up response maintains integrated cash, health, as well as water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, through coordinated emergency operations, prioritizing vulnerable groups while strengthening community resilience against ongoing drought conditions through both immediate relief and preparedness measures.Health teams, through both fixed and mobile clinics, delivered nutrition services, and hygiene education, while WASH programs rehabilitated water sources for 30,000 people.For the 300 families who live in Il-Hagar, existence depends on livestock. As well dry up and grazing lands vanish, each passing day tightens the drought’s stranglehold.Further into the Lughaya district, in Gargaara-Baki, the unrelenting drought has left livestock dead, livelihoods ruined, and families starving. The closure of the only Mother and Child Health (MCH) clinic due to funding cuts has compounded the catastrophe, leaving the community without medical care as climate-displaced families seek refuge there.The lack of pasture has led to sick and dying livestock, while minor illnesses now pose life-threatening risks due to the lack of a local clinic. Amid this crisis, Mama Xalimo Abdilahi Mohamed, a mother of seven and small business owner, spearheads a women’s solidarity group.“We’ve lost everything except each other,”' she says. “Together, we pool what little we have—grains, wages, hope—to keep our children alive. It’s our way of staying strong.”In the meantime, more people are now coming to the village because they can no longer survive on their own in more remote areas. Abdinassir Hassan Haji, the village headman and a father of eleven, bears the dual burden of his family and displaced arrivals.“We are supporting so many now,” he says, his brow furrowed. “Their arrival adds to our struggles.”Despite the challengesLack of functioning infrastructure also plays a role in some areas.In the neighbouring Garbo Dadar district of Awdal region, for example, a once-reliable water source built after Cyclone Sagar in 2018 has failed, leaving 3,500 households in crisis.Mayor Jamaal Muumin Caare explains that years of drought and erratic weather have dried up the pump, forcing residents to trek long distances for water—worsening their daily hardships.Despite challenges, this resilient community established a local hospital and a technical and vocational education and training (TVET) centre to improve livelihoods.The TVET centre offers practical training in trades and entrepreneurship, while the medical centre provides both healthcare services and employment opportunities.However, Dr. Ahmed Saeed, the hospital’s lead doctor, stresses the urgent need for medical upgrades: "We lack an operating theatre, essential supplies, and staff,”he says. “Without them, lives are at risk."A long road to waterThe story was similar in the Sahil region. In Sheekh district’s Robo Robo village, Aadan Ali Nur, an elderly agropastoralist, spoke of the long distances they now had to travel just to find water."It’s a struggle every day," he sighed, "Sometimes, we all chip in to pay for water to be trucked in, but it costs so much."In the next village, Ximan, Muse Hayan Elmi looked with concern at their only remaining water reservoir (berked)."To conserve the limited water we have, we take our camels to distant water sources while allowing goats and calves to drink closer to home,” he offered.In many cases, people have been forced to leave their villages entirely due to lack of water for daily use, livestock or farming.TheGeed Abokor internally displaced persons (IDP) campin Burco, Togdheer Region of Somaliland is home toabout 1,000 displaced households—mostly pastoralists—forced from their lands by recurrent drought and unbearable weather conditions.Withno functional health centre, residents must either wait for humanitarian medical outreaches or travelover 20 kilometres to Burco townfor care.Their most immediate crisis, however, is water scarcity. The camp’s sole berked (traditional water reservoir) has run dry for months now, leaving families dependent oncostly water trucking.Each household must contribute from their meagre resources to fund weekly deliveries—an unsustainable solution for people already stripped of livelihoods.Abdikadir Osman, the camp’s headman, adds:“The reservoir has been dry for months. Now, everyone pays for trucked water, even though they can barely afford it.”Beyond water, the camp grapples withinadequate latrines, poor sanitation, and lack of camp management, exacerbating health risks.Dahir Noor, a mother of six, describes the desperation:“We wait for the water tankers. If they don’t come, we travel to rural areas, collect whatever water we can, and haul it back on donkeys to share equally. We can’t overburden nearby towns—their resources are stretched too.”

As climate change in Africa forces more people from their homes, a new IFRC report says people can — and must — have more and better choices when it comes to their future

As floods, droughts, storms and heatwaves become more frequent and intense, the number of people in Africa uprooted from their homes by climate-related disasters has increased. These climate pressures do not exist in isolation, they often intersect with other risks such as conflict, economic instability, and food insecurity, compounding existing vulnerabilities and making it even harder for communities to recover and rebuild.In most cases, people have been left with little choice. As they watch the floodwaters rise, or the parched earth crack under their feet, they are left with few options: leave now and find safety elsewhere, or stay and risk losing your home, livelihood, health or, in the worst cases, your life.A new report from the IFRC, however, suggests there are many ways to work with people so they can avoid having to make such dire, life-altering decisions. And if such a choice is necessary, there are also ways to ensure that people and communities are prepared so they can move safely and with dignity, the report concludes.Entitled ‘Forced to Flee in a Changing Climate’, the report also stresses the urgent need for political leaders, policy makers, donors and international and regional organizationsto do moreto supportlocal actors that work directly with communities facing these challenges. (An executive summary of the report can be found here).“This report is a call to action, to invest in local solutions, empower communities, and ensure that no one is left behind when the next flood, drought, or storm hits."Charles Businge, IFRC regional director for AfricaIndeed, the need for action is urgent.In 2024, 7.8 million disaster displacements were recorded in Africa, according to theInternal Displacement Monitoring Center. That’s 1.8 million more than the six million disaster displacements recorded in 2023. (Note: These figures refer to displacements not people, because some people were forced to move more than once).“Over the past 60 years, Africa’s warming trend has exceeded the global average,” the report notes, citing measurements reported by theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “Recent years have seen heatwaves, heavy rains, floods, storms, cyclones and prolonged droughts.”Rising temperatures and more extreme rains, flooding, heatwaves and storms are expected to continue to drive even higher levels of displacement.A reason for hope: concrete actions in the communityHowever, the report also offers a wide range of practical tools and solutions, along with many reasons for hope. The report features 30 case studies from 15 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Africa that are already working across mutiple areas—identifying and reducing risks and promoting adaptation, preparing and acting early to reduce needs, providing assistance and protection, and promoting resilient recovery—to address and reduce the risks of climate displacement.“Locally led and collective action can help people to adapt, move to safer areas, and recover and rebuild with dignity,” the report concludes."Across Africa, too many people are being pushed to the edge by climate change, forced to flee their homes not because they want to, but because they have no other choice,” noted IFRC regional director for Africa Charles Businge. “This is not inevitable. With the right support, communities can prepare, adapt, and make informed decisions about their future.”“This report is a call to action, to invest in local solutions, empower communities, and ensure that no one is left behind when the next flood, drought, or storm hits."Five key ways to provide better optionsHere are five ways Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies empower communities and expand their choices in the face of climate change:Identifying risks through community-led risk assessmentsThe impacts of climate change and disasters affect people differently. To better understand their risks, including their risk of displacement, local actors are working with communities to map hazards andconductcommunity-led risk assessments. This allows them to plan and prepare ahead of potential disasters and better adapt to the impacts of a changing climate.The South African Red Cross, for example, has played a key role in collecting local data through emergency needs assessments in anticipation of potential flooding. This allows them to evaluate the priority needs of displaced communities and inform their response.Strengthening adaptation and promoting resilience to climate change impactsClimate change is impacting people’s access to existing services, threatening their livelihoods, and undermining health. Local actors help communities strengthen ecosystems and put in place nature-based solutions. Local actors can strengthen people’s access to social protection systems and help people protect their assets in ways that are climate-smart and climate-resilient. This can provide people with more options to diversify their livelihoods, find new ways to adapt, and stay in their homes, if they choose to.In Niger, for example, the Red Cross helps distribute drought-resilient seeds and it restocks cereal banks to reduce humanitarian needs when disasters arise. The Somali Red Crescent implements micro-economic initiatives to support local markets in the face of ongoing droughts and food insecurity. Read more about the impacts of drought in Somalia.Acting early and preparing ahead of disastersEarly warnings, early actions, and preparedness measures—such as mapping evacuation shelters and routes—help people who have to move do so more safely.In Mozambique, the Red Cross is working in places where displaced people live to strengthen early warnings ahead of disasters, including communities with people already displaced by earlier storms or crises.Communities like these are often the most heavily impacted by climate events but they lack sufficient systems for early warning and disaster preparedness. In Malawi, the Red Cross shares information about evacuation options in real time at the community level before the disaster strikes, so people move out of harm's way and make informed choices before disasters strike.Providing people who are displaced with assistance and protectionDisplacement cannot always be avoided. When it happens, local actors are often the first to respond, providing essential services to people in need – like food, water, shelter, and other relief items to address other basic needs. Local actors are also working to ensure their responses are protection sensitive. In these moments of chaos or crisis, the specific protection needs of in vulnerable groups such as women, children, older persons, and people with disabilities, are heightened.The Chad Red Cross addresses the humanitarian needs of flood-displaced communities, working to ensure volunteers and staff are trained to strengthen inclusive, safe, protection-sensitive approaches. In The Gambia, the Red Cross assists people displaced by floods in urban settings to better manage and store excess water.Supporting resilient recovery and longer-term assistance long after disasters endWhen people are forced to flee their homes, they may go back to their original homes, stay in the places they sought safety, move to new locations to rebuild, or remain longer term in displacement settings because they have no other options. In all these contexts, local actors are helping people recover and integrate where they can. They are working to ensure that in the future, people’s risk of displacement is lessened, for example by helping them rebuild their homes in a way that is more resilient. Where people remain in displacement camps or settlements, local actors are working to reduce their risks of future displacement, including them in risk reduction measures, for example.The Ethiopian Red Cross provides displaced households in camp settings, at risk of drought impacts with essential services, using mobile clinics for health services, and providing cash and voucher assistance, shelter support and livelihood opportunities.To learn more:Read or download the reportRead or download the executive summary of the reportMore articles and reports about climate displacement in Africa:IDMC, Global Report on Internal Displacement: AfricaInter-governmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report: AfricaEl Nino expected to make Malawi’s lean season even leanerWorld Hunger Day 2025: Drought driving hunger and desperation in the Horn of Africa

‘Now we know what to do’: Boosting local flood preparedness in Zimbabwe

"We used to watch the river rise and just pray it wouldn’t take everything," said Kenneth Madhlazi, a farmer from Chibuwe village in Zimbabwe’s Chipinge District. "When the floods came, there was panic—our livestock gone, our grains destroyed. Now, we know what to do. We are ready."For Kenneth and many families in Chibuwe, farming is more than a way of life—it is survival. They grow grains, groundnuts, sugar beans, cotton, tomatoes, and paprika, feeding their families and driving the local economy.But each rainy season brings fear. When the Save River and its tributaries overflow, the rising waters can sweep away homes, destroy livelihoods, and endanger lives in a matter of hours.Anticipating risk, protecting futuresDetermined to protect what matters most, the people of Chibuwe decided to act before the next disaster strikes by helping the whole community be prepared for the likelihood of future floods. The first big exercise was a community-wide emergency flood simulation.First, a mock flood alert was broadcast through the local Vemuganga Community Radio Station. Within minutes, first responders mobilized, families moved out along prescribed evacuation routes, and people gathered at pre-identified safe zones.A high-pressure scenario—a young woman swept away by floodwaters—tested the community’s ability to respond quickly, compassionately, and in coordination with local leaders and humanitarian actors.“We learned that immediate action is critical,”said Steven Tekesho, a Chibuwe resident. “As a community, we must work together in times of crisis.”Edmore Mabika, a councillor of Ward 20, Chibuwe, agreed: “This exercise opened our eyes to the dangers of delaying action due to cultural beliefs. Hesitation can cost lives.”Students from Chibuwe High School also took part in the drill.“We practiced evacuations and met at the safety point. This exercise showed us where we need to improve,”said one student, reflecting the importance of engaging youth in preparedness.A step toward a safer future and a model for further actionFor the people of Chibuwe, this was more than a drill. It was a powerful step toward protecting their families, their futures, and their dignity.The project serves as a good example of the difference that can be made when local communities get the support they need to prepare for emergencies, not just respond, recover and rebuild once the crisis has come and gone.With support from the European Union Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), theInternational Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Food Programme (WFP), a flood-simulation designed to test and strengthen its early warning systems and anticipatory action plans.It’s exactly the kind of story, about investing in local preparedness, that the IFRC will be highlighting this week as it brings its urgent message on disaster preparedness and anticipatory action to the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction this week in Geneva, Switzerland.Strengthening Systems, Saving LivesThe learnings from the Chibuwe exercise went far beyond the village, however.For Zimbabwe’s Department of Civil Protection (DCP), local authorities, and humanitarian partners, the simulation revealed critical insights into where response systems are strong—and where they need strengthening.“This simulation underscored the importance of early action,”said Veronica Bare, Acting Deputy Director of Response and Coordination at the Department of Civil Protection. “Disaster management is complex, but preparedness is key. Exercises like this ensure we are ready to respond efficiently when real emergencies strike.”Lessons learnedStakeholders identified communication flow as one area for improvement.“One key gap we identified is information flow,” added Tawona, senior officer for Livelihoods and Climate Resilience at IFRC. “We must strengthen coordination between communities, local authorities, and partners to build a response system that is agile, inclusive, and effective.”Following the simulation, stakeholders gathered to evaluate their response—analyzing reaction times, the effectiveness of alerts, and community engagement.As climate change accelerates the frequency and severity of floods, droughts, and storms, Chibuwe stands out as a powerful model of what proactive, people-centered resilience can achieve.By investing inanticipatory action today, the IFRC and its partners are helping vulnerable communities protect what matters most before disaster strikes.Learn moreIFRC at global event on disaster risk reduction: In a climate of shrinking funds and increased risk, it's time to shift priorities and get ahead of crisesHow IFRC’s anticipatory action work is transforming disaster preparedness around the world.IFRC and Early Warnings for AllClimate-smart disaster risk reduction at the IFRCDisaster and crisis preparedness at the IFRC

Heat Action Day 2025: As heatwaves become more extreme, knowledge saves lives

Heatwaves are often referred to as ‘silent killers’ because, while they often claim many lives, they do so one at time in many separate places: at a workplace, in a stifling apartment or on a scorching city sidewalk.But as climate change pushes average temperatures higher, it is also leading to more frequent extreme heat events. What was once “a few hot days” now stretches into weeks-long spells that define entire summers and lead to thousands of deaths due to heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration.Every summer is now a survival test and that makes the theme chosen for Heat Action Day in 2025 — “How to recognize heat exhaustion and heat stroke” — particularly urgent.Unfortunately, many people don’t recognize the warning signs until it’s too late or they don’t know how to respond quickly and effectively once the signs are clear.Although anyone can be affected by extreme heat, groups like elderly, young children, pregnant women and workers, both indoor and outdoor, are most at risk.Launched in 2022, Heat Action Day (HAD) is aglobal day of awareness and action on extreme heat. Led by Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies and partners, HAD mobilizes cities, communities, and organizations around the world to take simple yet life-saving steps to protect people from heat-related illnesses.So, how do you recognize heat exhaustion or heat stroke?Heat exhaustion occurs when your body overheats and can’t cool itself down. Here’s what to look for:Heavy sweatingCool, pale clammy skinDizziness or fainting.Rapid, weak pulseNausea or headacheWhat to do?Take a cool shower or use cold compresses.Get to a cooler place.Drink water if fully conscious.How to recognize heat stroke?Heat exhaustion can progress to life-threatening heat stroke. Here’s what to look for:Confusion or disorientation,No sweating despite hot conditions.Fainting or seizuresWhat to do?Call for medical help immediately.Move the person to a cool place, cool them with water or ice packs, and stay with them until help arrives.Provide water and advise to drink if fully conscious.Move to a cool place, hydrate with water, and rest until symptoms improve.Climate change is ‘super charging’ heatwavesBeyond the immediate acts one can take to save lives on a hot day, the IFRC is also using the occasion of Heat Action Day to release a new report – ‘Heat through the eyes of the most vulnerable: perceptions and pathways to action’. The report highlights how mounting global temperatures are making heatwaves more frequent and intense — in a sense, “super-charging” them.In aseparate report today, released last week by Climate Central and World Weather Attribution, scientists have found that in the past year, about half the world’s entire population experienced at least 30 additional days of extreme heat, largely due to climate change. “All 67 major heat events in the past year were made more likely by climate change,“ the WWA team say.Here are a few examples:In Central Asia, an extraordinary March 2025 heatwave was up to 10C hotter due to climate change.The United Arab Emirates experienced its hottest month of May in history this year.In March 2025, schools were shuttered in South Sudan for two weeks due to a heatwave, disrupting a critical resource for children.In 2024 a heatwave in the Sahel led to maximum temperatures over 45°C across the region, including a record of 48.5C in Kayes, Mali on April 3. At the same time there was a surge in hospital admissions and 102 deaths recorded at Gabriel Touré hospital in Bamako, Mali with reports indicating that heat likely played a role in many of the deaths.“Every nudge up in global warming increases the frequency, intensity and duration of heatwaves,”said Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General of the IFRC in his introduction to the report. “This has devastating consequences, ranging from physical and mental health impacts to disruptions to critical systems - and even heightened conflict.“Despite its deadly and wide-reaching impacts, heat remains under-recognized in policy, under-prioritized in adaptation planning and under-resourced in local implementation.“Heat disrupts health, weakens social systems, and triggers cascading failures in water, food, electrical and transport infrastructure,” he added. “Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers see the effects of heat firsthand: from newborns and elderly people showing up more often in healthcare settings, to changes in community life as people use public spaces less and adjust their lives around the hottest times of day.“Financial, social and systemic barriers prevent people from taking protective action. For example, outdoor workers who are generally young and healthy must make impossible choices between their health and making a daily wage.”Among other things, the report recommends that national and local authorities and communities develop Heat Action Plans and train volunteers to do first aid for heat and more critical, life-saving actions. Heat Action Plans, early warning systems, urban greening, passive cooling and anticipatory heat action have proven effective. Heat action must be funded, localized, and designed with and for those most affected, the report concludes.View and download the report here.From 'cool' bus stops to free water and sun-block: Heat Action Day 2025 rolls out around the worldMeanwhile, dozens of Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies — along with many local organizations and authorities around the world — are joining in with a range of Heat Action initiatives and events. Here are just a few examples:In Egypt, the Sustainable Tomorrow Initiative (STI), in collaboration with the Egyptian Red Crescent, has launched a digital awareness campaign for Heat Action Day (HOT days, SAFE Ways) to educate the public about the rising risks of extreme heat due to climate change, and to promote simple, life-saving practices to stay safe during heatwaves.In Iraq, volunteers for the Iraq Red Crescent Society are taking heat awareness messages to workplaces and city streets as they ramps up heat-awarenss activities ahead of the hot summer months.The North Texas chapter of the American Red Cross is rolling out new artwork and themed T-shirts along with a press conference at Dallas city hall.The West Bengal branch of the Indian Red Cross is distributing drinking water and education material to pedestrians, police and drivers working outdoors.The Turkish Red Crescent seven-day action series comprises awareness and follow-up, sun protection, domestic temperature management, advice on activity (nothing strenuous!) and clothing, nutrition and hydration, checking on vulnerable people and, lastly, animals.As part of the build-up to Heat Action Day this year, Geneva, Switzerland is setting up air-conditioned spaces for the public as well as “cool bus stands“ and other cooling centres in museums, libraries, shopping centres and retirement homes.The Indian city of Churu, which saw temperatures in excess of 50°C in 2024, is launching its own action plan that “blends local wisdom with data" and strengthens coordination between local, district, and state authorities.Pakistan‘s Community Development Foundation NGO has started working on heatwaves, training volunteers and health workers and setting up what it‘s calling heat stabilization centres.EU mayors‘Cities Refreshcampaign is a call to action for European cities to redesign urban spaces and communities for a cooler and more resilient future.The Asian Development Bank is sharing knowledge resources from a technical assistance project on strengthening women‘s resilience to heat stress in Asia and the Pacific.(Read more about Heat Action Day activities around the world).Learn more about heatwaves, climate change and how to prevent heatstroke:• For more information about how climate change driven heatwaves events please seeWorld Weather Attribution• Read more about Heat Action Day activities• Red Cross and Red Crescent Climate Centre

Heat Action Day June 2: How the Iraqi Red Crescent helps communities brave the heat and stay safe from rising climate threats

By the time the sun rises across much of Iraq, the heat has already taken hold. For farmers in remote villages, street vendors in cities, and traffic officers directing vehicles under a punishing sun, heatwaves are more than an inconvenience—they are a growing threat to health and survival.Iraq today is on the frontline of the global climate crisis. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, severe water shortages, and intensifying dust storms have converged to create a harsh new reality—one that affects millions, especially the most vulnerable.As we mark Heat Action Day in 2025, a global awareness raising event initiated by the IFRC, we take a look at what is being done by one Red Crescent National Society in one of the world’s hottest zones.It’s the story of how the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) is taking a very pro-active, localized and people-centered approach to climate action, not only addressing the immediate risks of heat waves, but also laying the groundwork for a healthier, safer, and more sustainable future.Staying cool and safe in one of the world’s hottest zonesIndeed, Iraq is one of the world’s most impacted countries when it comes to skyrocketing temperatures and it’s seen some of the world’s most extreme heat waves in recent years. These blistering weeks of 50°C-plus temperatures come on top of a host of other climate-related challenges, from drought to dust storms.Iraq’s Euphrates River is five meters below normal levels. Its share of the Tigris and Euphrates has dropped by 80 per cent. Water scarcity due to a variety of factors has led to the desertification of over 27,000 square kilometers of farmland, according to the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture, while temperatures soar above 50°C during peak summer months.Nowhere are these intersecting crises more visible than in governorates like Al-Muthanna, one of Iraq’s most impoverished areas. There, the Iraqi Red Crescent Society has launched multiple projects to ease the strain, including solar-powered water desalination stations that each produce 5,000 liters of safe water per hour.These projects reduce dependency on costly fuel, lower emissions, and bring dignity to communities long deprived of basic services."The impacts of climate change are no longer abstract," says Nawar Abdulkader, the head of IRCS’s Construction, Water and Sanitation Department. "They’re happening here and now, especially in places like Al-Muthanna where water shortages and extreme heat are making everyday life harder and more dangerous."A local resident from one of the affected areas put it simply: "This water station brought us hope. For years, we lived without basic services—no clean water, no support. Now, we finally feel seen."Preparing people to beat the heatBut the IRCS’s climate response extends far beyond infrastructure. With the early arrival of summer and intensifying heatwaves, IRCS is actively reaching out to vulnerable groups—especially outdoor workers like street vendors, construction workers, farmers, and traffic police—with heat awareness campaigns across the country.Volunteers distribute health brochures, hydration tips, and protective gear to help people reduce their risk of heatstroke and dehydration. This aligns with this year’s global theme for Heat Action Day “Recognizing and responding to heat stroke,” but it’s also become a central part of the IRCS’s yearly campaigns, which are grounded in practical, local knowledge and trust."We’ve seen firsthand how something as simple as a brochure or a bottle of water can protect someone’s life in the heat," says one IRCS volunteer. "This is about giving people tools they can actually use."The IFRC is also playing a role in supporting the IRCS in implementing key initiatives focused on climate-risk assessment and anticipatory action. These projects help the Red Crescent and communities better understand the specific climate risks facing communities, while enabling early, preventative measures that protect lives and livelihoods before disasters strike.From green roots to clean waterLong-term solutions are equally vital. In schools and communities, the IRCS has planted climate-resilient trees, rehabilitated school gardens, and promoted eco-friendly habits to reduce desertification and improve well-being.Since 2018, it has also rehabilitated 17 public facilities in Al-Muthanna alone—including schools and health centers—bringing essential services closer to people affected by heat and drought.When the storms roll inClimate change is also exacerbating another serious public health threat—dust storms.Iraq already experiences more than 180 dusty days a year. With predictions indicating this could rise to 270 by 2050, sand and dust storms are becoming a growing hazard. They reduce visibility, strain public health systems, and disproportionately affect children, the elderly, and people with chronic respiratory conditions.To mitigate these risks, IRCS teams regularly conduct outreach in high-risk areas—providing masks, raising awareness on staying indoors, and supporting health workers with protective supplies.Health, hope, and human dignityAll these combined impacts translate into rising needs for healthcare. For this reason, the IRCS has expanded its services:72 safe water stations serve 150,000 people dailyMobile clinics reach remote communitiesFood parcels and cash assistance support families pushed to the brinkOngoing health campaigns raise awareness in areas at riskThese efforts are part of a larger strategy: not just to respond to peak heat events, but to build resilience. The Iraqi Red Crescent is investing in people’s ability to withstand shocks—today and in the years to come.

Six months after devastating cyclone, Malawi Red Cross helps rebuild their lives

When Tropical Cyclone Chido swept through Southern Africa in December 2024, it left a devastating trail of destruction in its wake.In Malawi alone, the cyclone claimed 13 lives and displaced close to 46,000 people, stripping communities of their homes, livelihoods, and their sense of security.Now, six months later, people who lost everything in that horrifying storm, are rebuilding their lives with help from the Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS), funding from an IFRC Emergency Appeal, and support from the Danish Red Cross.“We were struggling to sleep at night with our house so exposed,” saidGodfrey Banda, a father of six who lives in Mileme village, Malawi. “Now, with this support, we can finally repair our home before the rains get worse.”A dual crisis as a new storm arrivesFor families like Banda’s, the cyclone meant more than physical damage—it meant uncertainty, fear, and the overwhelming burden of rebuilding. Across the country, similar stories of hardship emerged.But recovery has been complicated by the arrival of yet another tropical storm.In March 2025, Tropical Storm Jude struck the same vulnerable communities, compounding existing hardships. Jude brought torrential rainfall and further destruction, affecting nine districts and more than 26,000 people in Malawi’s Southern Region.In response, the MRCS and IFRC swiftly adapted, integrating the response to Jude within the ongoing Chido Emergency Appeal to ensure continuity and scale in lifesaving support.In total, the joint response has reached:7,520 people with cash assistance4,374 people with non-food items9,520 people with health interventions15,875 people with critical water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) servicesIn Misomali village, Mary Mangazuwa, a mother of four, remembers the terror as her home collapsed.“With no proper shelter, we were living in constant fear,” she said. “This money will help us buy black sheet paper to cover the part of our house that was destroyed.”A community-led responseNearby, in another village, 46-year-old Lyness Chazinya, a mother of two, recounted the night the winds tore through her home."The winds were so strong they destroyed my house,”she said. “I will use the cash to buy cement and rebuild the part of my house that got damaged."Even before Cyclone Chido made landfall, thousands of Red Cross volunteers were already mobilized—sharing early warnings, supporting evacuations, and helping communities prepare.These volunteers, drawn from the communities they serve, have been instrumental in guiding shelter assessments, distributing resources, and ensuring no one is left behind.Meeting urgent needs beyond cashWhile cash assistance helped address immediate needs, many families also lacked basic items to get through the aftermath. MRCS responded with the distribution of non-food items—including solar lamps, kitchen sets, blankets, and tarpaulins—to nearly 1,000 households (4,374 people) in rural, hard-to-reach areas.At the same time, the Red Cross prioritized health and hygiene promotion, knowing that disaster-related displacement often leads to secondary health crises. Volunteers went door to door sharing information on cholera prevention and disease control, helping communities protect themselves against outbreaks in crowded or unsanitary conditions.As climate-related disasters increase in severity and frequency, the IFRC and MRCS remain unwavering in their commitment to recovery, resilience, and principled humanitarian service.What you can do:Support theIFRC Emergency Appeal – Cyclone ChidoRead more about the IFRC, climate change and disaster responseRead more about IFRC and climate-smart disaster risk reduction

Tanzania: Red Cross helps contain deadly Marburg outbreak while preparing communities for future epidemics

When the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak hit parts of Tanzania in early 2025, the Tanzania Red Cross Society (TRCS) sprang into action, leveraging years of epidemic preparedness and support from the IFRC to contain the deadly virus.From emergency response to long-term recovery, the Red Cross volunteers have been working alongside the Ministry of Health to protect the most vulnerable, restore trust, and build a future where communities are better prepared to face health crises.Often fatal, Marburg virus disease is a severe illness similar to Ebola that is characterized by high fever, headaches, and in many cases, internal bleeding.Thanks to the rapid mobilization, the total number of cases was relatively low (a total of 10 cases as of 4th March 2025). However, the fatality rate was 100 per cent – underscoring the urgent nature of a concerted, community wide response.That rapid action was also enabled by a 280,00 Swiss franc allocation from IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund.From training to swift actionAs a first step in its emergency response, TRCS trained 50 community health workers and volunteers in high-risk districts, equipping them epidemic control skills to detect and respond to potential cases.These teams were mobilized across communities, conducting door-to-door visits to identify suspected infections, provide health education, and dispel dangerous myths about the disease.“Our volunteers were the first line of defense,” said a staff member from TRCS. “They not only alerted health authorities to possible cases but also ensured families understood how to protect themselves.”The teams also offered mental health and psychosocial support to those affected, including people in quarantine. Recognizing that outbreaks do not affect everyone equally, TRCS also trained staff and volunteers on protection, gender, and inclusion methods to ensure all parts of the community were fully represented.Volunteers learned to prioritize dignity, access, and safety for all — especially women, children, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.Battling misinformation with trust and dialogueRumors and misinformation spread as quickly as the virus itself. To counter this, TRCS engaged community leaders, traditional healers, and even schoolchildren in open dialogues. Through meetings, home visits, and public discussions, volunteers addressed rumors and misconceptions about both Marburg Virus and Mpox.“At first, people thought Marburg was a curse,” said one volunteer. “But by listening to their fears and explaining the facts, we built trust—and that saved lives.”Recovery and preventionWith the Ministry of Health declaring the end of the outbreak in March 2025, TRCS shifted focus to recovery. Over 100 new volunteers were trained in Ngara and Muleba districts to reinforce disease prevention, mental health support, and community engagement.In collaboration with its multiple partners, meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has developed a three-month recovery plan.As part of that plan, TRCS continued to deliver epidemic disease awareness in the affected areas, with volunteers and community health workers going house-to-house to educate people about disease prevention, reduce stigmas, and address fears among community members regarding the safety of the health facilities after the recent outbreak.In all, more than 1.5 million people were reached with critical health messages.As Tanzania recovers, the Red Cross remains vigilant—because in the fight against epidemics, preparation today means lives saved tomorrow.A lessons-learned workshop is on the horizon, aiming to strengthen future responses and ensure that past challenges are transformed into opportunities for improvement.Learn more:IFRC’s approach to epidemic and pandemic preparednessIFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund

Confronting alarming food insecurity trends in Africa: An expert’s view

Africa faces its most severe hunger crisis in decades. As of July 2025, over 282 million people, more than one in five, are affected, with entire regions pushed to the brink by climate shocks, economic instability, and conflict. From drought-stricken Southern Africa to famine-threatened communities in the East, the challenge is vast, but not insurmountable.As Gilbert Phiri, senior coordinator for the Africa region Zero Hunger Initiative at IFRC, explains, ending hunger will take more than emergency aid. It will require durable, community-led solutions designed to withstand future crises and empower people to feed themselves for generations to come.In this conversation, Gilbert shares the latest hunger trends across Africa, what makes a solution durable, and why community ownership is essential for scaling sustainable change.Understanding the crisisQ: What are the most critical hunger and malnutrition trends you’re seeing across Africa in 2025?A: Africa’s hunger and malnutrition crisis is growing more acute in 2025, propelled by interlinked climate, economic, and conflict-related shocks. Without immediate and coordinated global action, including investment in resilient food systems and targeted humanitarian aid, millions more are at risk of chronic hunger and life-threatening malnutrition.The most critical hunger and malnutrition trends across Africa in 2025 are deeply concerning, with indicators worsening in multiple regions despite some global improvements.Q: Could you highlight regional differences or hotspots?A: Almost no region is untouched:InWestandCentral Africa, over 52 million people face hunger during the 2025 lean season—an all-time high.Southern Africa: Countries like Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and Namibia are seeing up to 40 per cent of their populations in acute food insecurity due to drought, floods, and economic shocks.East Africa: Over 69 million people face acute food insecurity, half of the continent’s total undernourished population, according to the March 2025 update of the Food Security and Nutrition Working Group (FSNWG).Two other key Africa-wide analyses, from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification and the Global Report on Food Crises 2025 add that over 85 million people are highly food insecure in the East and Horn of Africa (including Sudan and South Sudan).In some countries, one in three children is malnourished. Somalia has the highest rates, but Chad, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, and Guinea-Bissau also exceed 30 per cent undernourishment.Q: What do recent statistics reveal about the scale of the crisis?A: As of July 2025, more than 307 million Africans—over 20 per cent of the continent’s population—are affected by hunger. Childhood stunting averages 30.7 per cent across Africa, with wasting (insufficient weight relative to a child’s age) at 6 per cent.In some countries, one in three children is malnourished. Somalia has the highest rates, but Chad, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, and Guinea-Bissau also exceed 30 per cent undernourishment.But addressing this crisis isn’t just about recognizing the scale of the need. A core aspect of the Zero Hunger Campaign is rethinking the way we respond to food insecurity.Defining durable solutionsQ: Durable solutions to addressing hunger can mean different things in different contexts. From your perspective, what are some of the core characteristics or principles that make a food security intervention ‘durable’?A: Durable solutions are those that are sustainable, systemic, and capable of withstanding future shocks induced by either conflict, climate change, or economic instability.Durable solutions require coordination, innovation, and inclusivity when addressing the root causes of hunger. They also build individual, community and agency resilience to food insecurity.Durable solutions must be:Sustainable and systemic – able to withstand future climate, conflict, and economic shocks.Locally led and scalable – driven by communities, designed for replication.Integrated – combining agriculture, social protection, and market access.Focused on livelihoods – diversifying income and building resilience.Q: How do these differ from short-term aid?A: Short-term aid saves lives in emergencies, but it’s temporary. Durable solutions tackle root causes, empower communities, and build systems that last. They combine health, education, agriculture, and economic development so that people can feed themselves year after year.An example of a project we’ve successfully replicated is the Village Model. In this project, households work together with support from the IFRC to improve food security, livelihoods, and resilience through shared resources, skills, and mutual support.Q: What makes durable solutions so impactful in these contexts?A: The attributes of a durable solution make it possible to transfer core methodologies and principles from one setting to another, adapting as needed for local success.An example of a project we’ve successfully replicated is the Village Model. In this project, households work together with support from the IFRC to improve food security, livelihoods, and resilience through shared resources, skills, and mutual support.By combining sustainable agriculture, savings groups, and social cohesion, it creates self-reliant villages capable of withstanding future shocks.Q: How important is community ownership when it comes to the success of these interventions?A: Community ownership and involvement are absolutely central to making zero hunger solutions both durable and scalable. When people design, manage, and adapt solutions themselves, they last longer and spread faster.In Rwanda, community-managed livestock schemes flourished because members reinvested in each other. In Nigeria, men began supporting mothers’ clubs after seeing tangible benefits for their households.Community-led approaches naturally foster replication and scale because they build confidence, local skills, and social structures that can extend successful models to new groups or regions. Strong community buy-in ensures that innovations are embraced, adapted, and promoted by local champions, creating a multiplier effect.What needs to happen nextQ: What support is most urgently needed to scale durable, community-led solutions?A:There is a significant financing gap—estimates indicate an additional $21–77 billion per year from public sources and much more from private sector investment is needed for food systems transformation in Africa.Current financial flows are insufficient to bridge this gap and reach all communities in need. Community-led models need multi-year, stable funding—not just short-term, crisis-driven aid—to allow them to take root, expand, and demonstrate impact over time.Other than that, we need enabling regulations, stronger government–community coordination, and expanded social protection programs, as well as training in climate-smart agriculture, organizational strengthening, and access to innovation and technology.The shift in thinking we hope to inspire all partners and stakeholders should move from asking: 'How can we feed people today?' to asking: 'How can we ensure people can feed themselves next year—and every year thereafter?'Q: If there’s one message for donors and partners, what is it?A: Sustainable, community-led solutions—not short-term fixes—are the only way to end hunger, and they require long-term, flexible investment and enabling policies to thrive.Too often, hunger responses rely on crisis-driven, one-off aid. While essential in emergencies, these don’t dismantle the root causes—poverty, fragile food systems, inequitable access to resources, and climate shocks.Durable, locally rooted approaches have already proven they can work, but they remain under-resourced and constrained by rigid funding cycles or policy barriers.The shift in thinking we hope to inspire all partners and stakeholders should move from asking:“How can we feed people today?”to asking:“How can we ensure people can feed themselves next year—and every year thereafter?”Join us in ending food insecurity in Africa. Explore the Africa Zero Hunger Campaign, share our stories, and be part of building resilient, self-reliant communities.

From seeds to strength: How Rwanda’s Model Villages offer a pathway to resilience

On any given morning in Rwanda’s Mukindo Sector, Gisagara District, you’ll hear goats bleating from their pens, while chickens peck at the dusty paths between homes.Just beyond the fields, a group of women gather beneath a tree. They have come together to record the latest births in the village’s livestock-sharing programme — a system where each family that receives an animal passes its first offspring to a neighbour in need.Moments like these reflect a growing movement in Rwanda: the “Model Village”, an ambitious Rwanda Red Cross programme that empowers vulnerable communities to work together to become more resilient to chronic poverty and increasingly severe bouts of food insecurity.The goal is to help local towns and villages become replicable models for sustainable, local development, food production, and livelihoods.For Emmanuel Ntakirutimana, head of the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PMER) Department, Rwanda Red Cross, the model villages represent a much-needed holistic approach to Africa’s food insecurity crisis.“In general, you see that developmental programmes are lacking substantial funding,” he said. “People will fund things like emergency response, rather than supporting communities to meet their needs consistently, which strengthens their capacities to mitigate risk.”The risk Ntakirutimana mentions here is growing. Across Africa, climate change is disrupting planting seasons and shrinking harvests. Conflict displaces millions from their land. Rising prices make even basic staples unaffordable for vulnerable families. And while emergency food aid can save lives in the short term, it often leaves the underlying causes of food insecurity untouched, meaning communities remain just one disaster event away from crisis.As it stands, Africa faces its most severe hunger crisis in decades. Over 282 million people, more than one in five, are affected. From drought-stricken Southern Africa to famine-threatened communities in the East, the challenge is vast, but not insurmountable.Established in 2008, the Model Village is one of the initiatives through which the Rwanda Red Cross provides support to vulnerable communities, aiming to help them lift themselves out of poverty through collective participation under the slogan, “Duhuze Imbaraga Twiyubaka,” or “Our Strength, Our Development.”It involves partnership with community leaders and local authorities who work together to plan and implement interventions like livestock sharing, improved housing, and clean water access, while also educating families on hygiene and equipping them to sustain these practices themselves.“This approach is key to ensuring that communities are given not only ownership of the solution, but the self-confidence to face challenges head-on,” explains Ntakirutimana.“We want to build people’s capacity to withstand the hazards affecting them as they sustain themselves,” he said. “So when you invest in preparedness, as you build this within the community, there will be fewer response needs. By the time a disaster hits, people will already have ways to respond effectively to the risk.”Rooted in community, designed for scaleA Model Village begins with spotting potential opportunities within a vulnerable community, whether it’s a reliable water source, proximity to a connecting road, or the drive of a committed local leader.From there, Red Cross Society volunteers, already trusted members of the community, step in to provide targeted support. For instance, Béatrice, a 42-year-old farmer and mother to six children in Gihombo Sector, Nyamasheke District, was able to learn better hygiene practices through the programme, access to safe drinking water, and an opportunity to earn an income.“I received a pig which reproduced well and provided me with a source of income. I rented a plot of land where I grow vegetables. I also do other small income-generating activities,” said Béatrice.“The increase in our income and savings, as well as everything the Red Cross has implemented in our community, is just the visible part of the iceberg. What really matters to us is that we have regained our dignity.”According to Ntakirutimana, one of the most important parts of a Model Village is ensuring communities gain the self-confidence to lead their own development. The Red Cross’ role is temporary: to support until local skills and resilience are strong enough for the community to sustain and grow its own solutions.“We want to see the role of the community increase as we support them,” added Ntakirutimana. “Up to where we can say that the ownership of the activities is 90 per cent in the hands of the community. Once they’re in the driving seat, it means you have built the sustainability of the intervention.”In successful Model Villages, community leaders become role models, and community members spread their resilience strategies to their neighbours. This strong sense of ownership is what makes the Model Village approach so easy to replicate. It builds on values already central to African life, particularly the tradition of solidarity.Working together on shared goals strengthens bonds of trust and mutual support, while creating a culture of problem-solving that lasts well beyond the initial project.Just as importantly, success in one village is usually shared with neighbouring communities, sparking a ripple effect of change. In this way, each Model Village becomes both a blueprint and a source of inspiration, helping others adapt the model to their own realities and accelerating the spread of durable, locally-led solutions.Across Rwanda, the Model Village approach is already transforming lives in tangible ways. Like Béatrice, who, along with her village co-operative, has learned how to produce and sellbriquettes made from organic waste.Hygiene has also improved dramatically, with villages adopting safe water practices and better sanitation facilities, reducing the spread of disease. Young people are stepping forward as active participants, contributing energy and fresh ideas to community projects. Women, too, are taking on greater leadership roles, driving initiatives such as communal gardening, savings groups, farming associations or cooperatives, and small-scale enterprises.These successes don’t just improve day-to-day life; they build the skills, confidence, and structures needed to keep progress growing long after the initial support has ended.“Listen to the communities. Listen to their wishes,” Ntakirutimana advised. “We listen to what they see as priorities, and then facilitate the process.”Securing the next chapter of the Model Village initiativeThe Model Village initiative is just one of the locally driven, lasting solutions supported by the recently launched Zero Hunger campaign. Driven by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the campaign calls for urgent investment in sustainable, community-led programmes that address the root causes of food insecurity across the continent.By amplifying proven approaches like Rwanda’s Model Villages, the Africa Zero Hunger campaign aims to inspire governments, partners, and donors to shift from short-term relief to long-term resilience, ensuring that communities are equipped to withstand future crises and thrive.Get involved:Join the Zero Hunger Campaign and help vulnerable communities on a path to resilience.More articles about the Africa Zero Hunger campaign:Confronting alarming food insecurity trends in Africa: An expert’s viewFrom short-term aid to long-term strength: Launching Africa Zero Hunger

Fighting fire with humanity: Syrian Arab Red Crescent responds as wildfires ravage villages

Wildfires in Chile: Red Cross leads new way of managing wildfires, well before the crisis hits

Marion Sandoval began her career at the Chilean Red Cross 15 years ago as a volunteer so she knows how crisis can turn peoples’ lives upside down. Now, as national disaster risk management director for the Chilean Red Cross, she uses that experience in helping to build a new way of managing emergencies, one that starts well before the crisis hits.Following several years of devastating wildfires around the country, the National Society engaged numerous communities to develop what is known as an “early action protocol.”It may sound somewhat technical, but the basic concept is fairly simple: give people the tools and knowledge they need before a crisis hits so they can minimize the impact that fires or other emergencies might have on their community. We wanted to know more so we talked to Marion Sandoval about this novel approach.Why did the Chilean Red Cross develop this early action protocol for wildfires?For about the last 15 years, we have had a significant recurrence of forest fires. We have gone through mega fires like the one in 2017 that affected the Maule region and that had a significant impact on homes and also claimed many lives. These losses are being lamented to this day.The problem is that many people lack sufficient knowledge about fire behavior and the actions they need to take to stay safe. This is especially critical in communities located near forestry lands, or where timber companies are operating and where wildfire risk is high.That’s why it’s essential to support these communities—so they can better understand how fire behaves and how to reduce its impact and protect their lives, belongings, and livelihoods.What are some of the key actions in the protocols that help the people get ahead of the fires?One of the first ones is to know their environment, so that they can know where they should make firebreaks (places cleared of trees that can slow or stop a fire from spreading further) and how and where to evacuate safely.During the spring season, for example, the fields near people’s houses are filled with grass or, as summer arrives, dry plantations. So the houses are surrounded by vegetation that becomes a real risk factor.So in the first stage, we deliver a firebreak kit consisting of tools to make ditches or firewalls and to clean out the areas surrounding their homes. Along with this, people will receive an evacuation kit that includes a backpack with items to protect from smoke, plus a first-aid kit that contains eye medication and items to protect lungs and eyes from smoke and particulate matter. All this will be accompanied by the training of volunteers and community members.What we are hoping for is to encourage communities to evacuateas soon as we have the declaration of what we call “the red button” – a warning system that that is activated by the National Forestry Corporation, based on real-time monitoring of the fire’s movement. The red button activation means the community is likely to be exposed – in 2 or 3 days -- to the impact of the fire.One of the big problems in Chile is that communities often do not evacuate because of the fear of losing their belongings and their homes. So, in this case, the early action protocol promotes safe evacuations because people feel more assured that their belongings and their homes will be protected.This protection is also critical for recovery afterwards because these households are also what allow people to have electricity, hot water, a shower, a refrigerator or cooked food – things that also help prevent diseases. After fires, forest water sources are lost or contaminated, which could lead to diseases.At the same time, local authorities are encouraging people to build and improve their homes with more solid, fire-resistant materials such as concrete, bricks, blocks, rather than wood or other lightweight materials.In this way, we are also ensuring the subsequent recovery of people’s livelihoods. When these fires strike, not only is the housing lost, but also the plantations people have made for personal consumption and for animal fodder are lost. This means byproducts such as milk, cheese, poultry and eggs –which people sell or consume – are also lost.All the work you are doing in response to forest fires connects with the high temperatures and heatwaves. How are the these two phenomena connected?Clearly, if we have fires in an area and a heat wave happening at the same time, we are going to have a greater impact and, in turn, a greater advance of the fire. So, we have now started to review heat waves. We also want to advance in a protocol for heat waves.We are now entering winter, but in the last summer we had a heat wave alert almost once a week d uring the months of February, March, even December last year. So, the dynamics of heat waves is happening a lot in the southern part of our country and here in the big cities because of the buildings.So we also want to look for key messages for our community and work on delivering recommendations that are feasible and that can be foreseen. For example, if we have heat waves, there is the issue of hydration, sunscreen, of walking in the shade, doing sports. There a lot of recommendations that we could be delivering to our community to prevent the impact of heat waves.Are there any other actions being carried out by the Chilean Red Cross to prevent fires, or threats related to extreme temperatures?We have a program in which schools, communities, neighborhood councils, the community itself knows its risks and can identify the needs, not only for forest fires and heat waves, but also for floods, tsunami effect, landslides and other emergencies.The key to any situation is to be prepared, to have contingency plans, to have family emergency plans, to be clear about what we are going to do when we have a heat wave or when we have a forest fire or any other event that could affect us.

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