Sustainable Agriculture Sudan Project #64109

Disaster prevention

Project Report | Dec 17, 2024
So that if things get bad, it doesn't get worse

By Christoph Lubczyk | Project Leader

Natural disasters know no borders. Where wealthy 
countries are still well positioned in prevention 
and aftercare, poor countries are hit even harder. 
That is why cross-border cooperation is extremely 
important, especially in disaster prevention.

The alliance organization of Aktion Deutshland Hilft, 
ADRA Deutschland e.V., is involved in projects in 
Somalia and Mozambique that strengthen the resilience 
of communities. The motivation: Prevention saves 
lives and reduces costs in post-disaster care.

ADRA supports prevention projects in Somalia and Mozambique
In Somalia and Mozambique, ADRA Deutschland e.V. works 
with several partners to take preventive measures to 
minimize the effects of natural disasters. Through 
training, the development of emergency plans and the 
establishment of early warning systems, communities are 
empowered to react independently and in a timely 
manner to impending dangers.

This preventive approach not only reduces human 
suffering. Every euro invested in disaster prevention 
saves many times the costs of emergency aid and 
reconstruction.

Disaster prevention saves lives
The experiences from projects in countries such as Fiji 
and the Philippines underline the importance of prevention. 
By setting up early warning systems and training the 
population, the effects of natural disasters have been 
significantly reduced. This is exactly what is now being 
implemented in Somalia and Mozambique.

The project is being implemented in the Somali regions of 
Shabeellaha Hoose and Maroodijeh (Somaliland) as well as in 
the Cabo Delgado region in northern Mozambique. At the start 
of the project, communities, community representatives, 
local weather services, local and national authorities and 
aid organizations such as ADRA work hand in hand.

The aim is to identify impending disasters at an early stage 
and to enable people to react to emergencies independently 
and prepare themselves.

Building early warning systems
Based on experiences from previous natural disasters and the 
analysis of scientific data, critical thresholds are 
identified that can be used to predict disasters and their 
impacts.

The analysis of past droughts makes it possible to use the 
soil moisture of crops or the degree of soil dryness as early 
warning indicators. Floods can be predicted by monitoring the 
water levels of rivers.

Recognize dangers in good time
If the level reaches a predetermined threshold based on 
experience from previous floods, appropriate measures are 
taken. When predicting hurricanes, certain wind speeds are 
used as benchmarks to develop early warning indicators.

The early warning indicators are monitored and information 
about weather forecasts is regularly collected and evaluated. 
This is how the forecast scenarios for the early warning 
systems are created.

Creation of emergency plans
After the early warning systems have been set up, emergency 
plans are developed and communicated in order to better 
prepare people for disasters and to take appropriate 
protective measures.

In the event of a predicted drought, sufficient food can be 
stored in good time or, in the event of a flood, people can 
be brought to safe accommodation in good time. In addition, 
responsibilities and competencies are distributed to ensure 
effective and planned action in the event of a disaster.

Support in applying for funding
In addition to this preventive and pragmatic work, ADRA 
supports communities in applying for funding. Means to be 
able to implement the measures in the area of early warning 
systems and emergency planning.

Only when institutional or private funds have been 
successfully applied for can the early protective measures 
be put into action. That is why our alliance organization ADRA 
is supporting the people in the two project regions in setting 
up a disaster prevention fund.

The aim of this measure is to enable communities to 
independently apply for funding and build up reserves in the 
medium and long term.

ADRA relies on local collaboration
ADRA Deutschland e.V. works closely with local partner 
organizations, village communities and authorities in 
disaster prevention on this project.

These partnerships are crucial to develop measures that respond 
to the specific needs and circumstances of the affected regions. 
Local organizations and the local population implement the 
planning and measures on site themselves.

The guiding principle here is “helping people to help 
themselves”. This increases the acceptance and sustainability of 
such projects. Cooperation with national and regional authorities 
ensures that early warning systems and emergency plans can be 
supported and further developed in the long term to strengthen 
the resilience of communities.

Thank you for your donation!

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Aug 23, 2024
Mpox: We help with prevention

By Christoph Lubczyk | Project Leader

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared 
the highest alert level due to a new variant of 
the Mpox virus in Africa. As Mpox spreads in several 
countries, the virus could become a health risk 
and lead to severe disease, especially in children. 
Our partner organization, the Johanniter have had 
offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, 
Mozambique, South Sudan and Uganda for many years. 
Except for South Sudan, cases of Mpox infections have 
already occurred in all project countries. The 
Democratic Republic of Congo is the hardest hit by this 
year's outbreak. According to the WHO, there have 
already been more than 14,000 cases in the Central 
African country this year. 524 people died from the 
virus.

DR Congo: “People live in extremely cramped conditions”

Especially in the refugee camps in the embattled North 
Kivu region in the east of the Congo, all the conditions 
are in place for the disease to spread. People live in 
cramped conditions, hygiene conditions are poor and there 
is little access to medical care. The Johanniter are deployed 
here in seven camps with mobile clinics. “There have already 
been 10 cases of illness in our clinics,” confirms medical 
coordinator of the Johanniter in the Congo.
The numbers are still low and those affected can be isolated. 
To ensure that it stays that way, our partner organization, 
the Johanniter, are now focusing on prevention and education 
for people. Health workers and volunteers use information 
campaigns to educate people about symptoms and precautionary 
measures. The employees in the mobile clinics are also 
prepared for the virus and are appropriately equipped and 
set up.

Precautionary measures in several African countries

"The first cases have also occurred outside the Democratic 
Republic of Congo, although so far they have been small. But 
this can quickly become a health crisis for the entire continent 
if precautionary measures in the area of infection prevention 
and control are not taken seriously," says regional health advisor 
for the Johanniter in Uganda. "Communities are urged to practice 
high levels of hygiene and avoid contact with infected people. 
We must take action now to prevent a new pandemic."
The first case of Mpox infection was confirmed in Mozambique 
yesterday, posing additional challenges to the country, which 
is currently battling an outbreak of the highly contagious measles. 
In Kenya, the authorities test people when they enter the country 
and try to prevent the spread. Tests are carried out particularly 
at strategically important border crossings in the north of the 
country. Uganda also primarily monitors the country's border with 
the Democratic Republic of Congo and checks travelers for symptoms. 
Many people are currently fleeing to Uganda due to the unrest in Congo.

Coordination and expansion of measures

The Johanniter have increased the precautionary measures in the 
projects in all countries. Awareness campaigns are carried out in 
the communities and volunteers are trained to inform the people in 
the villages. Employees also take part in government task force forums 
and clusters of various organizations to coordinate and expand 
protection and relief measures. Global, regional and country-specific 
updates are routinely provided and an intensive exchange on the 
situation, including the availability of vaccines, takes place.


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