Beyond the Call of Duty: The Journey of Humanitarian Worker Sabin Adhikari

Sabin was born in Lamjung and spent his early years in Bara. After completing his School Leaving Certificate (SLC), he moved to Kathmandu for higher education. Today, he lives in Lalitpur with his wife and young daughter, who are his greatest joy and the strength behind his demanding work.

His path into the humanitarian world began with a moment of curiosity and an open door. While pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Sabin found himself with free time. A friend’s brother, then working with the Red Cross, shared his experiences and told him about volunteering opportunities. Intrigued, Sabin signed up to volunteer at a blood bank.

“That was my first taste of humanitarian work,” he recalls. “It wasn’t just about donating blood-it was about connecting with people in moments when they needed care.”

From that point, there was no turning back. He soon took on a role as a Community Trainer for the Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Programme in Udayapur, funded by the Japanese Red Cross. This brought him face-to-face with communities living under constant threat of natural disasters. It was there that he began to truly understand the challenges and resilience of rural Nepal.

Sabin’s academic path included degrees in sociology, international development, and disaster risk management, which provided him with the knowledge to complement his field experience. “My studies helped me see the bigger picture,” he says. “I could connect the social dynamics, development challenges, and disaster realities in a way that guided my work.”

Over the next decade, Sabin dedicated himself to the Red Cross, working in multiple capacities. His defining moment came in 2015, when Nepal was struck by a devastating earthquake. As the Emergency Response Coordinator in Kavre, he was the focal point for liaising with national and international actors. From the very first day of the disaster, he was deployed to the area, living in a tent and surviving on instant noodles for the first week.

“It wasn’t easy,” he remembers. “But in those situations, your personal comfort stops mattering. The priority is to get relief to people, no matter the conditions.”

The experience also opened new doors, connecting him with global humanitarian networks, alliances, and UN bodies. Over time, he trained in regional and global emergency response, strengthening his ability to operate in fragile and complex settings.

In 2022, Sabin joined People in Need (PIN) as the Emergency and Anticipatory Action Lead. His role is as demanding as it is vital as he prepares for and responds to emergencies, leads anticipatory action initiatives, and coordinates with both government and humanitarian partners. He also works to share capacities with local actors and civil society networks, ensuring that responses are inclusive, gender-sensitive, and community-led.

Sabin is a strong advocate for professional, principled emergency response. “During emergencies, it’s important to deploy trained and prepared personnel, as this ensures an effective and principled response in line with humanitarian standards,” he says. From the early days at PIN, he pushed for the creation of a dedicated Emergency Response Team (ERT), a trained, ready-to-deploy group of staff who fully understand humanitarian standards and can act quickly when disasters strike. In early 2024, PIN Nepal formally established the ERT to prepare for and respond to emergencies more effectively, aligning with PIN’s strategic priority of Emergency Response and Recovery.

Today, Sabin leads the ERT’s development along with management, guiding preparedness activities, organising simulations, and enhancing members’ skills so they can act with speed, precision, and compassion. “The goal,” he says, “is to have a team that’s ready from day one rather than figuring things out when lives are on the line.”

Nepal’s geographical diversity and the impacts of climate change mean that hazards are frequent, from floods and landslides to earthquakes, heatwaves, and health emergencies. “There’s never really a ‘quiet’ time in this work,” he says.

The intensity of the job often collides with family life. In November 2023, on the morning of the Jajarkot earthquake, Sabin was on a family trip visiting a temple outside Kathmandu. As soon as news of the disaster reached him, his phone began buzzing with calls and messages. Realising he was needed, he made the difficult decision to leave his wife and daughter to continue their journey without him.

“I saw my daughter’s sad face, and it hurt,” he admits. “But in that moment, I knew my place was back in Kathmandu, coordinating the response. That’s the reality of being a humanitarian worker.”

While the demands of the job can be heavy, Sabin draws strength from seeing the impact of his work. One of his proudest moments came during a visit to Jajarkot after the earthquake response. “Listening to community members tell us how timely support helped them get back on their feet was incredibly rewarding. It reminded me why we do this.”

The work is not without its risks. Travelling to remote areas often means navigating landslide-prone roads, sleeping without proper shelter, or facing tense situations during aid distribution. “You have to manage crowds, sometimes in high-pressure situations. It’s not always safe, but we follow strict protocols to minimise risks.”

Despite these challenges, Sabin has never doubted his calling. He credits his resilience to the unwavering support of his family and colleagues. “We may not always be able to solve everything, but if we can help one family, it’s worth it.”

When he’s not visiting sites or at coordination meetings, Sabin enjoys unwinding with evening walks, family time, or moments of quiet reflection. “Those small things help me recharge for the next challenge.”

His years as an aid worker have profoundly changed him. “I’ve become more empathetic, more resilient. I’ve learned to see strength in people even during the most difficult times. This work teaches you to value humanity above all else.”

For Sabin, the real fuel for his work lies in the changes he witnesses, whether it’s a community better prepared for floods or a family able to return home after a disaster. “Even the smallest progress is a victory,” he says.

On this World Humanitarian Day, we celebrate Sabin and countless others who stand up during life’s most difficult moments. They are the ones who trade comfort for commitment, stepping into uncertainty so others can find safety.

As Sabin puts it: