Southasiadisasters.net, Issue No. 222 | July 2025

The issue of Southasiadisasters.net on “Heat as Humanitarian Crisis: What Local Organisations Are Doing” brings powerful insights into one of the fastest-growing humanitarian threats of our time—extreme heat. Co-edited by Joyce Nyaboga of the Start Network and Mihir R. Bhatt of AIDMI, this issue highlights the local leadership driving solutions in India, Kenya, and South Sudan. From Ahmedabad’s cooling umbrellas for small vendors to early warning systems in Sibi, and from gender-responsive planning in Bihar to traditional heat-resistant homes in Tamil Nadu, this edition showcases urgent, inclusive, and grounded action.

The stories in this issue highlight that:

• Extreme heat is a humanitarian crisis, not just a weather anomaly.
• Local organisations are first innovators, not just first responders.
• Anticipatory action, traditional knowledge, and women’s leadership are key to building resilience.

In This Issue:

1. Introduction

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

2. Adapting to the Heat: A Personal Journey

Joyce Nyaboga, Senior Network Development Adviser (Design and Infrastructure), Start Network, UK

3. What are we Learning about Heat and Humanitarian Relief?

Prerna Singh, Transitions Research, India

4. Anticipatory Actions: The Need of the Hour to Combat with Heatwaves

Nadia Zafar, Communications, READY Pakistan, Pakistan Hub Secretariat, Part of Start Network

5. Extreme Heat as a Humanitarian Crisis: Local Organisations Leading Resilience Efforts

Revathi Ramkumar, Deputy Hub Manager, India Humanitarian Hub, Part of Start Network, India

6. Policy Perspective on Extreme Heat Adaptation and Mitigation in India

Dina Rasheed, Akash Yadav, and Vishal Pathak, AIDMI, India

7. Braving the Heat in Sibi, Balochistan: How Local Action is Turning Crisis into Resilience

Naseer Ahmed Channa, CEO, Bright Star Development Society Balochistan (BSDSB), and Saeed Ullah Khan, Director, GLOW Consultants Private Limited

8. Resilience on Wheels: How One Woman Survived the Scorching Heat of Ahmedabad

Pallavi Rathod, AIDMI, India

9. Community-Led Solutions for Extreme Heat: Building Climate Resilience of Informal Women Workers

Ninad Shroff, SEWA Bharat, India

10. Heatwave in South Sudan Forcing Closure of Schools

Violet Masibo Ben, Hope Restoration South Sudan

11. The Indispensable Role of CSOs in Heatwave Risk Management in India

Dina Rasheed, Akash Yadav, and Vishal Pathak, AIDMI, India

12. The Human Cost of Rising Temperatures and Local Solutions: Making a Difference

Dr. Nakazibwe Joy, UNFCC Certified Climate and Health Advocate, African Climate and Health Responders Course, Uganda

13. Equitable Cooling for a Warming India: Lessons from the Ground

Avinash Singh, Head – Corporate Sustainability and Climate Adaptation, Sustainable Living Lab India, 2025

14. How to Respect the Extreme Heat Resilience of Animals in Urban India?

Kalpesh Prajapati, AIDMI, India

15. The Impact of Extreme Heat Risks on Small Businesses and Solutions

Dina Rasheed, Akash Yadav, and Vishal Pathak, AIDMI, India

16. Turning Up the Heat: A Future Agenda for Africa’s Economic Development and Climate Resilience

All India Disaster Mitigation Institute, India

17. भीषण गर्मी और मानवीय संकट: स्थानीय स्तर पर हो रहे प्रयास (Extreme Heat and Humanitarian Crisis)

Vaishali Tiwari, AIDMI, India

18. A Summary of Key Recommendations from the Various Contributors

Joyce Nyaboga, Senior Network Development Adviser (Design and Infrastructure), UK; and Mihir R. Bhatt, AIDMI, India