John, Mohamud Hassan Adde knows the signs of an impending drought when he sees them.
The dusty winds. The rising temperatures. The unbroken blue of the sky.
As a lifelong farmer in Somalia, Mohamud has lived through many droughts. Every time, he was forced to watch his precious goats die, one after the other. He had to face the pain of telling his children that he could no longer afford their school fees. His savings turned into debt.
A few months ago, Mohamud noticed those familiar signs again. But when the drought came this time, everything was different.
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| "The droughts used to kill many of my animals. This time around, the money came when our livestock were still alive, and that’s how the animals ended up being saved. It has really helped us and preserved our dignity." —Mohamud Hassan Adde |
Previously, humanitarian aid would often arrive at the height of the drought, when devastating consequences are already visible and have long been felt: children pulled out of school, malnutrition among family members, and sick or dead livestock. The aid was often too little and too late.
But now, through our anticipatory action program, the IRC is able to use weather forecasts to warn families early. As soon as an extreme weather event is predicted, families receive several rounds of cash assistance to prepare for droughts or floods.
For Mohamud, that early support made all the difference. His story shows how acting before crisis strikes can protect livelihoods and preserve dignity—and it's an approach we're bringing to vulnerable communities facing climate emergencies around the world.
Learn more about how the IRC is helping communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.
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— Team IRC 💛
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