Emergency and Humanitarian Response
When crisis hits, we are already here
Floods, drought and displacement do not wait for a funded project. Wa-PYDO is part of the communities of the Somali Region, so when an emergency comes we respond with whatever we have: our own resources, contributions from members and staff, and the support of humanitarian partners.
A response that never stopped
Since 2015 Wa-PYDO has answered every major flood, drought and displacement crisis in and around Dollo Ado.
community-funded emergency responses since 2015
drought-affected households reached with cash in 2021
flood-affected households given mosquito nets and jerrycans in 2018
animals vaccinated in the 2024–25 drought response with EHF
How we work
Close to the community, quick to act
Our staff and volunteers live in the places they serve. That means we know who is most at risk, we can reach them in hours rather than weeks, and we stay after the emergency to help families recover.
In every response we work alongside the woreda administration, sector offices and other humanitarian actors, so that support goes where it is needed most and nothing is duplicated. We prioritise female-headed households, older people, people with disabilities and families with young or malnourished children.
What we do in an emergency
Every crisis is different, so each response is built around what people need most at that moment.
- Evacuation and rescue — helping move flood-affected families to safety with local authorities and volunteers
- Shelter and household items — tents, mats, mosquito nets, jerrycans and other essentials for displaced families
- Food and safe water — ready-to-eat food, food baskets and water purification for households cut off by floods or drought
- Cash assistance — cash so families can buy what they need most and avoid harmful coping
- Protecting livelihoods — livestock vaccination and treatment, seeds and water so families do not lose their means of survival
- Health and protection — first-aid training for young volunteers, COVID-19 support and safe referral of people at risk
Our record
A decade of responding
- 2015 — Joined the evacuation of flood-affected households in Dollo Ado and distributed water purification agents to 120 households. Trained 30 young volunteers in first aid.
- 2016 — Flood response for 250 households with mats and food, and water purification for 100 households. School materials for 1,000 girls and 500 orphans and vulnerable children.
- 2017 — Emergency shelter (21 tents), food and bottled water for newly displaced families in Dollo Ado, and 1,000 kg of rice and 250 kg of sugar for displaced families near Bur Amino.
- 2018 — Helped evacuate and rescue flood-affected people; ready-made food for 240 households, and mosquito nets and jerrycans for 300 households.
- 2019 — A month of Ramadan food baskets for 200 displaced households in Dollo Ado.
- 2020 — Materials for the COVID-19 community mobilisation team in Dollo Ado.
- 2021 — Led a joint cash response for 450 drought-affected households in Dollo Ado and Bokolmayo, funded by staff and member contributions (USD 10,000).
- 2023 — Flood emergency response with evacuation support and household items for affected communities around Dollo Ado (USD 20,000, Wa-PYDO internal funds).
- 2024–2025 — Multi-sector drought response with the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (OCHA), reaching 35,100 people in Dollo Ado Woreda.
With humanitarian partners
Funded emergency projects
PROLIFE Drought Response
Livestock vaccination for 7,770 households, seeds and pumps for 240 farmers, a new well for 3,900 people and cash for 180 households. Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund / OCHA, 2024–2025.
Protection and GBV response in Kelafo
Protection services and GBV response for women, girls and vulnerable groups in Shabelle Zone. Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund / OCHA, 2026–2027.
Ready for the next emergency
If you are a humanitarian agency or donor looking for a trusted local partner who can reach affected communities quickly in the Somali Region, we would like to hear from you.