“When everyone is running from the scene, I was running towards it just to save others,” Dr. Abdulkadir Abdirahman Adan said during the second episode of “Humanitarian Heroes: Voices from the Frontlines” speaker series. In collaboration with the PEACE Lab at Yale School of Public Health, we launched the series to bring you closer to members of the Aurora Humanitarian Network working on the frontlines in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

Watch the full conversation: 

Leaving a safe career to care for others

After training as a dentist in Pakistan, Dr. Adan returned to Somalia in 2006 and witnessed a devastating reality—people were dying because emergency medical care was often unavailable. Using $4,200 of his own savings, he bought a second-hand minibus and established Aamin Ambulance, Somalia’s first free ambulance service.

Since converting that first minibus, Aamin Ambulance has grown into a major free ambulance service in Mogadishu, with 19 ambulances operating 24/7 and serving people regardless of their background or circumstances.

“Whoever you are, we came for you to save you. They know that you are not taking a side. You are taking life to save it,” Dr. Adan said, describing the mission behind Aamin Ambulance.

Building trust in the community

Aamin can translate to “trust” in Arabic, an intentional choice in a community that was at first skeptical of Dr. Adan’s altruistic efforts. Built over the years on volunteerism and community support, including contributions as small as one dollar, the organization has earned that trust. In a challenging environment, ambulances have been destroyed, team members have lost their lives, and every emergency response has meant moving toward danger while others move away. Through it all, Dr. Adan continues to believe that every person deserves a chance to live.

Beyond emergency response, Dr. Adan is investing in Somalia’s future through education initiatives, including Jazeera University, which creates opportunities for young people to pursue education and public service rather than being drawn into conflict. His impact can also be seen through the lives he has touched: one former patient, assisted by Aamin Ambulance’s team as a child, later joined the organization as a paramedic.

Supporting global humanitarians

As a member of the Aurora Humanitarian Network, Dr. Adan is part of an international community of frontline humanitarians with deep experience working in crisis settings. “It is like finding a family you did not know you had. It lifts me up. When you are in a conflict zone, it’s easy to feel alone,” he said, reflecting on the importance of solidarity among humanitarians.

His belief that sustainable humanitarian solutions begin with local leadership reflects Aurora’s commitment supporting grassroots humanitarians who are closest to the challenges they address. “Humanitarianism is not about us,” Dr. Adan said. “It’s about the people we serve.”

“Humanitarian Heroes: Voices from the Frontlines” is made possible with the support of Health Tech Without Borders (HTWB), On The Ground AI (OTG), and PAs for Global Health (PAGH).

Top photo courtesy of Dr. Abdulkadir Abdirahman Adan, via his social media.