Sustainable Agriculture Sudan Project #64109

Disaster prevention

Project Report | Jul 9, 2026
No One Gets Left Behind

By Christoph Lubczyk | Project Leader

Disaster Preparedness Saves Lives

Storms, floods, earthquakes, or emerging 
diseases can plunge entire regions into 
humanitarian crises in a very short time. 
Disaster preparedness helps people in 
at-risk areas better prepare for such 
events and limits its impact. The goal 
is to prevent suffering before it occurs 
and to make communities more resilient to 
future disasters.

People with Disabilities at Particular Risk

People with disabilities are 
disproportionately affected by natural 
disasters. Only one in five people with 
disabilities can be safely evacuated in an 
emergency. During the 2011 earthquake and 
tsunami in Japan, their mortality rate was 
two to four times higher than that of people 
without disabilities. At the same time, around 
three-quarters of people with disabilities 
are excluded from humanitarian aid following 
a disaster, and only 17 percent are aware of 
their community's protective measures.

Inclusive disaster preparedness is therefore 
essential. Information must be accessible to 
everyone for instance, through sign language, 
audio and video formats, easy-to-understand 
text, illustrations, or high-contrast visuals. 
People with disabilities are involved in the 
planning of preparedness measures from the 
very beginning.

Better Preparing Communities for Emergencies

For over 20 years, the partner organization 
of Aktion Deutschland Hilft, Handicap 
International, has been committed to 
inclusive disaster preparedness and is 
currently implementing 23 projects across 12 
countries. Working alongside local authorities 
and communities, the organization develops 
emergency plans that take into account the 
needs of particularly vulnerable individuals. 
Regional stakeholders receive training on 
identifying risks early and on including people 
with disabilities, the elderly, and pregnant 
women in evacuation and protection measures.

In addition, Handicap International supports 
the construction of accessible emergency 
shelters, provides technology for monitoring 
weather patterns, and shares information on 
resilient building methods using local 
materials. At the same time, roads and water 
storage facilities are improved to ensure 
access to clean water and life-saving aid, 
even during a disaster. Risk awareness 
training, the stockpiling of first-aid 
supplies, and regular simulation exercises 
help communities act quickly and in a 
coordinated manner when an emergency strikes.

Protecting Lives Together

Through its disaster preparedness programs, 
Handicap International has already reached 
more than 783,000 people, either directly or 
indirectly. Close cooperation with local 
authorities and communities fosters the 
creation of sustainable structures that 
offer better protection to people and help 
significantly reduce the impact of 
future disasters.

Thank you for your kind donation!

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Mar 17, 2026
Early Action Saves Lives in Ethiopia and Somalia

By Christoph Lubczyk | Project Leader

In a region severely affected by 
climate change, our alliance 
organization ADRA is helping people 
in Ethiopia and Somalia protect 
themselves against natural disasters, 
particularly flooding along the Shebelle 
River. The project strengthens local 
disaster preparedness through proactive 
relief measures and the development of 
early warning protocols. At the same 
time, it promotes cross-border 
cooperation to jointly identify risks 
early and protect affected communities 
more effectively. This includes 
establishing local early warning systems, 
training authorities and community members, 
and stockpiling relief supplies. 

The project is being implemented under the 
Welthungerhilfe Anticipatory Humanitarian 
Facility (WAHAFA) funding program, which 
supports local humanitarian organizations.

Why Early Action Is Necessary 
The Shebelle River stretches for approximately 
1,820 kilometers through Ethiopia and Somalia. 
It originates in the Ethiopian Highlands, flows 
southeast through Somalia, and eventually 
empties into the Indian Ocean. The river is 
both a vital source of water and a recurring 
threat. In the Somali Region of Ethiopia and 
the Hiiraan Region of Somalia, sudden and 
heavy rainfall frequently leads to flooding. 
Recurring floods destroy farmland, homes, and 
infrastructure, cause livestock losses, and 
exacerbate existing social and economic tensions 
caused by drought and conflict. Disasters 
endanger lives and have long-term impacts on 
livelihoods. Therefore, early action is 
essential, rather than reacting only after a 
disaster. 

How ADRA Organizes Early Action 
ADRA has been active in Somalia and Ethiopia for 
many years, providing education, livelihood 
building support, and emergency relief. Disaster 
preparedness is also part of these efforts. 
In previous projects, ADRA supported communities 
and authorities in regions such as Shabeellaha 
Hoose and Maroodijeh in identifying drought risks 
and planning preventative measures. Current 
initiatives aim to strengthen and coordinate local 
disaster management systems in Somalia and Ethiopia 
through proactive action and early warning systems. 
Authorities, local organizations, communities, and 
research institutions in both countries are working 
together to identify potential flooding along the 
Shebelle River early on and prepare appropriate 
countermeasures. This coordination helps to better 
protect human lives and reduce property damage.

Development of Early Warning Protocols and Indicators
Floods do not respect political borders, which is why 
cross-border cooperation is essential. ADRA supports 
communities and authorities in Somalia and Ethiopia 
in reducing shared flood risks associated with the 
Shebelle River. In both project regions, early warning 
protocols are being developed in collaboration between 
local organizations, authorities, and flood-affected 
communities. A cross-border working group, which 
includes our partner organization ADRA, promotes 
coordination and knowledge exchange among experts 
from various disciplines. Based on historical flood 
data and scientific analyses, critical thresholds are 
defined to predict disasters and assess potential 
impacts. River level monitoring is one example: once 
predefined thresholds are reached, warning signals are 
triggered and early warning protocols are activated to 
inform vulnerable communities in a timely manner.

Establishment of a Cross-Border Early 
Warning System and Emergency Planning
Early warning indicators are monitored on both sides 
of the border, in parallel with the continuous 
collection of weather forecast data. Village committees 
regularly exchange information to better assess 
developments along the river. Responsibilities are 
clearly defined between community members and 
authorities to ensure coordinated and effective action 
in the event of an impending disaster. Emergency plans 
are developed to provide timely assistance before flooding, 
including evacuation to safe shelters and the provision 
of food and drinking water. Training programs conducted 
by our partner organization ADRA enhance the skills of 
staff, authorities, school personnel, and local partners 
to assess risks and respond effectively. Furthermore, 
ADRA produces informational materials and provides 
recommendations to policymakers to promote the 
institutionalization of proactive measures in disaster 
preparedness systems and the allocation of sufficient 
funding.

Thank you for your kind donation!

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Nov 19, 2025
Long-term Investments are Needed

By Christoph Lubczyk | Project Leader

Natural disasters are increasing 
in times of climate change. 
Therefore, disaster preparedness 
and proactive humanitarian aid 
are more important than ever, 
warns Aktion Deutschland Hilft 
on the International Day for 
Disaster Risk Reduction.

Proactive aid saves lives
“Disaster preparedness budgets 
have always been tight. However, 
this crucial area should not be 
neglected, even with limited 
resources,” emphasizes disaster 
preparedness expert at Aktion 
Deutschland Hilft.

She explains: “Because disaster 
preparedness and proactive 
humanitarian aid are more effective 
and also more cost-efficient than 
providing emergency relief after 
a disaster.”

Many disasters can be traced back 
to foreseeable situations. “That’s 
why proactive aid is so important 
to save lives and minimize suffering.”

Innovative Solutions for Coastal Protection
In 2024, partner organizations 
implemented 54 disaster preparedness 
projects with donations from Aktion 
Deutschland Hilft.

For example, our partner organization 
ADRA in Mozambique is protecting over 
1,000 square kilometers of coastline 
from erosion and storm surges by 
planting mangroves, seagrass, and 
coral reefs.

Data and Analysis Predict Hazards
The partner organization World Vision is 
involved in providing data for early 
warning systems in several countries, 
promoting climate-adapted agriculture, 
reforestation, and the protection of water 
sources. Proactive humanitarian aid is also 
being provided:

Thanks to accurate data and analysis, 
hazards such as storm surges can be 
predicted, and so-called action protocols 
with protective measures can be implemented 
in time for disasters to occur—including 
evacuations, food distribution, and the 
opening of emergency shelters.

Budget cuts also affect disaster preparedness
However, the shrinking budgets for 
humanitarian aid are restricting the work 
of some of our partner organizations: “The 
international funding cuts for humanitarian 
aid are hitting the area of disaster 
preparedness particularly hard,” says Head of 
Programs at partner Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe.

“Targeted aid projects, such as the installation 
of early warning systems or in the area of 
climate-adapted agriculture, can prevent 
humanitarian disasters. Due to the funding 
cuts, a significant portion of these projects 
are being eliminated – with serious 
consequences,” she laments.

Shrinking budgets for new projects
The aid organization is forced to scale 
back disaster preparedness measures in 
Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Syria. For 
example, a project in Syria was cut by 
50 percent by donors. As a result, 480 
households will not receive water-saving 
drip irrigation systems, and the project 
is being reduced from seven to two regions.

Our alliance organization ADRA is also 
scaling back its activities in the field 
of disaster preparedness compared to the 
previous year: There are projects that can 
no longer be financed, as well as fewer new 
prevention projects because the funds are 
insufficient.

Thank you for your donation!

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