Programmatic responses to extreme heat - guidance for humanitarian practitioners

Written for humanitarian practitioners — NGOs, community organizations, governments, and international bodies working in fragile and conflict-affected settings — this guide addresses the growing threat of heatwaves as a humanitarian issue. As climate change makes heatwaves more frequent and deadly, the guide argues that extreme heat is still underrecognized by many humanitarian actors and provides evidence-based, practical guidance for responding to it.

The document establishes that heatwaves kill an estimated 546,000 people annually worldwide — comparable to malaria deaths — and that exposure for vulnerable groups increased by over 300% in the first quarter of this century, with frequency projected to be 8.6 times higher than pre-industrial levels by 2035. Beyond direct mortality, extreme heat damages nutrition, food security, water quality, livelihoods, and raises risks of violence and protection failures. The guide then provides sector-by-sector practical guidance covering health, WASH, nutrition, food security, shelter, protection, and community engagement — including how to establish Heat Action Plans, cooling centres, early warning systems, and vulnerability assessments, with a consistent focus on protecting the most marginalized populations.