As we commemorate World Humanitarian Day, we need to recognise that humanitarian action goes beyond mere response; it is a lifeline for countless people in need around the world. It represents compassion, urgency, and commitment to saving lives and restoring hope sustainably amid crises.
Humanitarian action is about safeguarding human dignity, especially for communities regularly affected by natural disasters. For these communities, the basic needs extend beyond immediate survival to include access to food, healthcare, education, shelter, mental health support, and protection. Such efforts are rooted in humanity and solidarity. Addressing the needs of vulnerable communities requires a compassionate and sustained approach, recognising the diverse challenges they face and the importance of restoring their dignity amidst hardship.
When hope and resilience are central to strengthening communities severely affected by disasters, communities are better equipped to withstand future crises, reducing risks and enabling faster recovery. Supporting communities to address their own challenges is needed for sustainable recovery, particularly in today’s complex and unpredictable environment, where external support alone is insufficient. The Mid-Year Review of the Global Humanitarian Overview indicates that “by the end of May 2026, more than 252 million people were in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection.” As the number of people in need of help grows, building local capacity and encouraging self-reliance are the most effective strategies to ensure resilience and long-term stability in the face of ongoing and emerging threats.
At Humana People to People, we address urgent needs while protecting development progress by integrating relief, recovery, and resilience. Our people-centred approach ensures that every project aims to strengthen local systems rather than foster dependency. In times of crisis, we invest in preparedness, early recovery, and local capacity by mobilising what has been built through years of cooperation: teachers reopening classrooms, smallholder farmers adapting to climate impacts through sustainable practices, youth organising into response teams, and community volunteers maintaining essential services.
As droughts have ravaged parts of Zimbabwe, DAPP Zimbabwe’s Environmental Actions Kukwanisa project in Mutasa district has become a beacon of resilience, training farmers at demonstration sites, encouraging the establishment of nutrition gardens, and connecting them directly to markets. In 2025, the Farmers Club Chivi empowered 1,500 smallholder farmers with climate-smart agricultural practices, enhancing their resilience and ensuring food security amid changing climate patterns by cultivating small grains and small livestock. In Chimanimani, Farmers Club Chimanimani took significant action by implementing structured climate plans, harvesting rainwater, cultivating small grains on degraded lands, and reclaiming gullies. Farmers diversified into small livestock, raising chickens and rabbits, and adopted fish farming, strategies that reduced vulnerability and boosted household incomes.
“As a family man with two hectares of land, producing for both consumption and income, recurrent droughts became a threat to my field crops and household food security. After joining a 10-member inclusive Farmers’ Club, we developed a business plan and invested in a 216-egg incubator to hatch eggs for ourselves and for community members at a fee. Today, we generate income from selling chicks and reinvest the proceeds to grow the business, supplementing my crop production,” Tawanda Mataruka, smallholder farmer.
DAPP Malawi's Youth Empowerment for Climate Change Solutions facilitates an international youth exchange between Malawi and Zimbabwe, emphasising the development of practical skills in climate-smart agriculture, disaster risk management, and advocacy. The project strengthens youth capacity to confront the impacts of climate change and promote climate resilience in Chiradzulu District, Malawi, and Shamva District, Zimbabwe. It empowers young people with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement effective, community-based climate-smart solutions that directly address prevailing catastrophes.
Our members, DAPP Malawi and ADPP Mozambique, donate second-hand clothing to flood-prone communities. These donations are emergency relief, followed by targeted Malaria prevention projects and Farmers' clubs. The malaria efforts aim to empower communities with knowledge and tools to reduce cases, while the Farmers' Clubs train locals to adapt and protect their livelihoods amid hardship. These initiatives foster community self-reliance, resilience, and strength, transforming vulnerable populations into empowered, hopeful communities.
With the increasing frequency and severity of disasters worldwide, it is important that we strengthen our humanitarian efforts. By expanding support and resources, we can better address the ever-increasing needs of affected communities, mitigate impacts, and build resilience against future crises. Only through sustained and coordinated humanitarian action can we reduce suffering and promote recovery in an increasingly fragile global landscape.
