By Joyce Nyaboga, Senior Network Development Adviser (Design and Infrastructure), Start Network, UK; and Mihir R. Bhatt, All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI), India

As climate extremes intensify globally, extreme heat has emerged as a particularly insidious and growing threat—one that is frequently overlooked in both policy and humanitarian response. Unlike floods, earthquakes, or storms, heatwaves do not leave behind visible destruction. Instead, they unfold gradually, draining energy, reducing productivity, exacerbating health risks, and silently claiming lives—particularly among the most vulnerable populations. In South Asia and across parts of Africa, where infrastructure is fragile, access to basic services is limited, and climate adaptation is under-resourced, the consequences are already severe.

This issue of Southasiadisasters.net, titled “Heat as Humanitarian Crisis: What Local Organisations Are Doing”, documents and celebrates the actions of local actors rising to meet this complex and accelerating challenge. It showcases stories from Gujarat and Bihar in India, Balochistan in Pakistan, Marsabit in Kenya, and South Sudan—each presenting unique but interconnected efforts by communities, civil society organisations (CSOs), women workers, and small businesses. These local leaders are not waiting for global solutions—they are innovating in real time, using context-specific approaches to safeguard lives and livelihoods.

Whether it is the installation of cooling umbrellas for small businesses in Ahmedabad, the establishment of community cooling centres in Sibi, or the adaptation of school calendars in South Sudan, these interventions offer tangible, effective, and often low-cost strategies for addressing extreme heat. Some draw on traditional knowledge—like climate-responsive architecture and lightweight fabrics—while others harness modern tools, such as early warning systems and digital platforms. What connects them all is their local origin and grassroots leadership.

This issue takes a deliberately humanitarian lens. Extreme heat is not merely a climate or public health issue—it is a humanitarian crisis that demands urgent, anticipatory, and inclusive action. It requires integrating extreme heat into disaster risk reduction, community preparedness, urban development, and social protection systems. It demands a shift in mindset: from reactive to proactive; from top-down to locally led.

The stories gathered here reinforce the idea that local organisations are uniquely positioned to drive heat adaptation. They know their communities, understand vulnerabilities, and can deliver timely, culturally appropriate support. Yet, these organisations often operate with limited resources and little visibility. Recognising, resourcing, and scaling their work must become a priority—not just for national governments, but also for international humanitarian and development actors.

This issue also argues for a more intersectional and inclusive approach to heat resilience. Gender, age, disability, occupation, and geography all influence how people experience extreme heat and what support they need. Solutions must be co-designed with communities, responsive to diverse needs, and grounded in both science and lived experience.

Finally, this edition serves as a call to action. If we continue to treat heat as a seasonal inconvenience rather than a structural and systemic threat, we risk compounding inequality, worsening health outcomes, and reversing development gains. But if we act boldly and collaboratively—supporting local solutions, aligning policies, and investing in anticipatory systems—we can turn extreme heat from a silent crisis into a catalyst for inclusive and climate-resilient development.

The time to act is now. And local organisations are already showing the way.