For Heat Action Day 2025, we look at how one Red Crescent National Society tackles heat waves in one of the world’s hottest zones. It’s a model of local, people centered approach to keeping people safe and healthy during increasingly hot and dangerous heatwaves.
By the time the sun rises across much of Iraq, the heat has already taken hold. For farmers in remote villages, street vendors in cities, and traffic officers directing vehicles under a punishing sun, heatwaves are more than an inconvenience—they are a growing threat to health and survival.
Iraq today is on the frontline of the global climate crisis. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, severe water shortages, and intensifying dust storms have converged to create a harsh new reality—one that affects millions, especially the most vulnerable.
As we mark Heat Action Day in 2025, a global awareness raising event initiated by the IFRC, we take a look at what is being done by one Red Crescent National Society in one of the world’s hottest zones.
It’s the story of how the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) is taking a very pro-active, localized and people-centered approach to climate action, not only addressing the immediate risks of heat waves, but also laying the groundwork for a healthier, safer, and more sustainable future.
Staying cool and safe in one of the world’s hottest zones
Indeed, Iraq is one of the world’s most impacted countries when it comes to skyrocketing temperatures and it’s seen some of the world’s most extreme heat waves in recent years. These blistering weeks of 50°C-plus temperatures come on top of a host of other climate-related challenges, from drought to dust storms.
Iraq’s Euphrates River is five meters below normal levels. Its share of the Tigris and Euphrates has dropped by 80 per cent. Water scarcity due to a variety of factors has led to the desertification of over 27,000 square kilometers of farmland, according to the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture, while temperatures soar above 50°C during peak summer months.
Nowhere are these intersecting crises more visible than in governorates like Al-Muthanna, one of Iraq’s most impoverished areas. There, the Iraqi Red Crescent Society has launched multiple projects to ease the strain, including solar-powered water desalination stations that each produce 5,000 liters of safe water per hour.
These projects reduce dependency on costly fuel, lower emissions, and bring dignity to communities long deprived of basic services.
"The impacts of climate change are no longer abstract," says Nawar Abdulkader, the head of IRCS’s Construction, Water and Sanitation Department. "They’re happening here and now, especially in places like Al-Muthanna where water shortages and extreme heat are making everyday life harder and more dangerous."
A local resident from one of the affected areas put it simply: "This water station brought us hope. For years, we lived without basic services—no clean water, no support. Now, we finally feel seen."
Preparing people to beat the heat
But the IRCS’s climate response extends far beyond infrastructure. With the early arrival of summer and intensifying heatwaves, IRCS is actively reaching out to vulnerable groups—especially outdoor workers like street vendors, construction workers, farmers, and traffic police—with heat awareness campaigns across the country.
Volunteers distribute health brochures, hydration tips, and protective gear to help people reduce their risk of heatstroke and dehydration. This aligns with this year’s global theme for Heat Action Day “Recognizing and responding to heat stroke,” but it’s also become a central part of the IRCS’s yearly campaigns, which are grounded in practical, local knowledge and trust.
"We’ve seen firsthand how something as simple as a brochure or a bottle of water can protect someone’s life in the heat," says one IRCS volunteer. "This is about giving people tools they can actually use."
The IFRC is also playing a role in supporting the IRCS in implementing key initiatives focused on climate-risk assessment and anticipatory action. These projects help the Red Crescent and communities better understand the specific climate risks facing communities, while enabling early, preventative measures that protect lives and livelihoods before disasters strike.
From green roots to clean water
Long-term solutions are equally vital. In schools and communities, the IRCS has planted climate-resilient trees, rehabilitated school gardens, and promoted eco-friendly habits to reduce desertification and improve well-being.
Since 2018, it has also rehabilitated 17 public facilities in Al-Muthanna alone—including schools and health centers—bringing essential services closer to people affected by heat and drought.
When the storms roll in
Climate change is also exacerbating another serious public health threat—dust storms.
Iraq already experiences more than 180 dusty days a year. With predictions indicating this could rise to 270 by 2050, sand and dust storms are becoming a growing hazard. They reduce visibility, strain public health systems, and disproportionately affect children, the elderly, and people with chronic respiratory conditions.
To mitigate these risks, IRCS teams regularly conduct outreach in high-risk areas—providing masks, raising awareness on staying indoors, and supporting health workers with protective supplies.
Health, hope, and human dignity
All these combined impacts translate into rising needs for healthcare. For this reason, the IRCS has expanded its services:
- 72 safe water stations serve 150,000 people daily
- Mobile clinics reach remote communities
- Food parcels and cash assistance support families pushed to the brink
- Ongoing health campaigns raise awareness in areas at risk
These efforts are part of a larger strategy: not just to respond to peak heat events, but to build resilience. The Iraqi Red Crescent is investing in people’s ability to withstand shocks—today and in the years to come.