India Heatwave Emergency Appeal | Provide Water & Relief | Muslim Hands UK

India Heatwave

Emergency appeal

India Heatwave Emergency Appeal 2026

Help Protect Vulnerable Families from Deadly Heatwaves in Delhi

As temperatures in Delhi soar beyond 48°C, thousands of vulnerable people are facing a daily struggle for survival.

Homeless individuals, daily wage labourers, rickshaw pullers, street vendors, elderly people, women and children are being forced to endure extreme heat with little access to safe drinking water, shade or cooling facilities. Every year, severe heatwaves lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, heatstroke and preventable deaths across India's cities.

Muslim Hands is launching an urgent India Heatwave Emergency Appeal to provide lifesaving hydration and heat-relief support to those most at risk.

Your donation can help deliver clean drinking water, electrolyte hydration, cooling stations and emergency support to vulnerable communities across Delhi.

What is causing this emergency? 

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves across India. Urban areas such as Delhi are particularly affected due to overcrowding, limited green spaces and the urban heat island effect, which can make temperatures feel even higher than official weather reports.

For many people living and working outdoors, access to something as simple as a bottle of cold water can mean the difference between safety and a medical emergency.

Without immediate intervention, thousands of people remain exposed to:

  • Severe dehydration
  • Heat exhaustion
  • Heatstroke
  • Worsening health conditions
  • Loss of income due to illness
  • Increased risk of death during extreme temperatures

How Your Donation Will Help

With your support, Muslim Hands and our local partner will provide emergency heatwave relief through:

  • Emergency Hydration Stations

    Three temporary hydration and cooling stations will be established in high-risk locations across Delhi, including transport hubs and areas with high numbers of vulnerable residents.

  • Safe Drinking Water Distribution

    Thousands of bottles of chilled drinking water will be distributed to people exposed to extreme heat every day.

  • Reusable Water Bottles

    Vulnerable individuals will receive reusable water bottles that can be refilled free of charge at hydration stations throughout the project.

  • Basic Health Support

    First aid and health assistance will be available for individuals showing signs of heat stress and heat-related illness.

Together, these interventions are expected to directly support approximately 10,000 vulnerable people across Delhi.

Who Will Benefit?

This emergency response focuses on those most vulnerable to extreme heat, including:

  • Homeless individuals
  • Daily wage labourers
  • Construction and outdoor workers
  • Rickshaw pullers
  • Street vendors
  • Elderly people
  • Women and children
  • Low-income families living in informal settlements

Climate Change and Heatwaves in India

India is experiencing increasingly severe climate-related emergencies. Heatwaves are becoming longer, more intense and more dangerous for communities already struggling with poverty and limited access to resources.

By supporting this appeal, you are helping communities adapt to the growing impact of climate change while providing immediate, lifesaving relief to those in urgent need.

Donate Today

No one should suffer or lose their life because they cannot access clean water during extreme heat. Your donation today can help provide hydration, protection and hope to vulnerable people facing dangerous temperatures across Delhi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is this appeal needed?

Delhi experiences extreme summer temperatures that can exceed 48°C. Vulnerable people who spend long hours outdoors often have limited access to safe drinking water, shade and cooling facilities, putting them at risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Who will benefit from this project?

The appeal will support vulnerable groups including homeless individuals, daily wage labourers, rickshaw pullers, street vendors, elderly people, women, children and low-income families across Delhi NCR.

What support will be provided?

The project will establish hydration and cooling stations, distribute chilled drinking water, electrolyte drinks, reusable water bottles, ORS sachets, sun-protection caps, glucose biscuits and provide basic first-aid support.

How many people will be helped?

The project aims to directly support approximately 10,000 vulnerable people through emergency hydration and heat-relief assistance across Delhi.

What are hydration stations?

Hydration stations are temporary relief points where people can access safe drinking water, electrolyte drinks, shaded rest areas and basic health support during periods of extreme heat.

How does my donation help?

Your donation helps provide lifesaving relief, including clean drinking water, hydration support, cooling facilities and essential supplies for people at risk from extreme heat conditions.

Why are reusable water bottles being distributed?

Reusable bottles allow beneficiaries to refill safe drinking water free of charge at hydration stations throughout the project, providing ongoing access to hydration while reducing reliance on single-use plastics.

Is this a climate emergency response?

Yes. Increasingly severe heatwaves are one of the growing impacts of climate change in India. This project helps vulnerable communities cope with extreme temperatures while protecting their health and wellbeing.

Where will the project take place?

The intervention will be implemented across high-risk locations in Delhi NCR, including labour gathering points, transport hubs, informal settlements and areas with large numbers of vulnerable residents.

How can I support this appeal?

You can make a donation to help provide clean water, hydration support and emergency heat-relief assistance to vulnerable communities facing dangerous summer temperatures in Delhi.