anticipatory humanitarian action

Anticipatory humanitarian action involves taking proactive steps before a disaster or crisis occurs to prevent harm and reduce its impact. Instead of waiting for a crisis to unfold, organizations and governments analyze risks and deploy resources—like early warnings, supplies, or support—to vulnerable populations in advance. This approach aims to save lives, minimize suffering, and lower response costs by acting early, based on forecasts and data. Essentially, it's about preparing and acting ahead of time to better protect communities from imminent dangers, rather than reacting only after a disaster has struck.