Daynaba’s Story: From Loss to Resilience

Mrs. Daynaba, a mother of three (a boy and two girls), lives with her aging parents in Irdoole village which nestled near the river. Their life was upended when torrential rains caused the river to overflow catastrophically. Rushing water engulfed their home, forcing the family to flee. Worse still, the floodwaters lingered on their farm, rotting the roots of over 20 mature mango trees—a devastating blow to their income and food security. “The river took everything,” Daynaba recalls. “Our home, our trees, our hope.” The root cause was clear: the river lacked proper embankments. During peak rains, water surged unchecked, sweeping through vulnerable villages and farmland. Families like Daynaba’s faced cyclical displacement, loss, and deepening poverty.

Recognizing this urgent need, HIJRA in partnership with Concern Worldwide joined forces to erect a robust river embankment at critical overflow points. The project prioritized areas where communities were most at risk, including Daynaba’s village of Irdoole. Engineers and local laborers worked together, combining technical expertise with community knowledge to fortify the riverbanks.

Today, the embankment stands as a shield against disaster. During recent rains, the river remained contained, sparing homes and farms. For Daynaba’s family, the change is profound. “We no longer live in fear,” she says. Their rebuilt home stands secure, and the surviving mango trees – once on the brink of collapse – are now nurtured back to health. With farmland protected, the family has begun diversifying crops, planting drought-resistant varieties to build climate resilience.

This success story emphasizes the power of timely intervention in an era of climate extremes. Agro-pastoral communities, often on the frontlines of climate change, face intensified floods and droughts. The embankment not only safeguards lives but also secures the river’s role as a lifeline – ensuring water for irrigation and livestock even during dry spells.

Daynaba’s journey from vulnerability to resilience mirrors a broader truth: targeted infrastructure, paired with community partnership, can turn the tide against climate shocks. As Concern and HIJRA expand efforts to neighboring villages, the message is clear – resilience, when anchored in action, can flourish even in the harshest environments.