Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)
The
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (
OFDA) is an organizational unit within the
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that is charged by the
President of the United States with directing and coordinating international
United States government disaster assistance.
In cooperation with other U.S. government offices and international
humanitarian experts, OFDA continuously monitors global hazards,
identifies potential areas of need, and stands ready to respond whenever
disaster strikes.
History
After failed attempts to respond to the
1963 Skopje earthquake in Yugoslavia and the eruption of the
Irazú Volcano
in Costa Rica, the U.S. Government decided to create a central,
coordinating agency to lead U.S. international disaster response
efforts. In 1964, OFDA was established under the
Foreign Assistance Act with the appointment of a Foreign Disaster Relief Coordinator within USAID.
[1]
In 1975, the Foreign Assistance Act was amended with a
"notwithstanding" clause in the International Development and Food
Assistance Act, allowing the President to bypass any bureaucratic
procedures that might hinder a timely response.
[2]
The "notwithstanding" clause gives OFDA the expedited authority to make
grants and contracts without having to go through the lengthy
procurement procedures required for other USAID offices. In addition,
the clause allows OFDA to work in countries where other U.S. Government
agencies are not present.
[3]
Mandate
- Save Lives
- Alleviate Human Suffering
- Reduce the Economic and Social Impact of Humanitarian Emergencies Worldwide
Disaster Response
Canine search working for USAID/OFDA on their way to Haiti to conduct rescue operation after the
2010 Haiti earthquake.
Each year, OFDA responds to dozens of international disasters, including rapid-onset events, such as
earthquakes,
floods,
storms,
tsunamis, and
volcanoes; slow-onset emergencies, such as prolonged
drought leading to
food insecurity; and complex emergencies stemming from political crises,
social unrest, or
armed conflict.
An official disaster declaration allows OFDA to provide humanitarian
assistance to affected populations. OFDA closely coordinates all
activities with the
U.S. Embassy
or USAID Mission in the affected country. OFDA also conducts
humanitarian assessments to determine if and when USG humanitarian
assistance may be appropriate. OFDA’s response depends on the scale of
the event and the needs of affected communities and may comprise a range
of activities, including one or more of the following:
- Immediate provision of up to $50,000—an amount designated as the
Disaster Assistance Authority—to the U.S. Embassy or the USAID Mission
in the affected country for the local purchase of relief supplies or as a
contribution to a relief organization;
- Deployment of a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) or other
emergency teams to disaster-affected areas to conduct assessments,
determine additional needs,deliver relief supplies,provide technical
assistance, and/or recommend proposals for funding;
- Activation of an on-call Response Management Team (RMT) in Washington, D.C.;
- Procurement, transportation, and distribution of emergency relief
supplies, such as plastic sheeting, water containers, water purification
units, blankets, and health supplies, from one of OFDA’s three regional
warehouses; and/or
- Support for relief and rehabilitation activities through grants to
implementing organizations, including international and local
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), U.N. agencies, or international
organizations.
Examples of OFDA-funded activities include purchasing local relief
supplies for populations in remote locations, managing and/or supporting
primary health care programs, implementing cash-for-work activities,
providing seeds and tools to displaced farmers, or restoring water
systems in drought-stricken countries. In addition, OFDA often
prepositions personnel and relief supplies to prepare for a foreseeable
disaster, such as a hurricane or volcanic eruption.
OFDA possesses the authority to request exemptions from USG
regulations when doing so will expedite the provision of emergency
assistance, as well as to borrow money from other USAID accounts when
OFDA requires additional funding, although use of the special
authorities is rare.
Transition from Relief to Development
As
an emergency response transitions from addressing immediate needs to
longer-term rehabilitation and reconstruction activities, OFDA works
with other offices within USAID’s Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and
Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA) and USAID’s regional bureaus and overseas
missions—among other partners— to ensure a seamless hand-off of
assistance from relief to development entities.
Disaster Risk Reduction
In addition to disaster response activities, OFDA also supports a range of
disaster risk reduction
(DRR) projects designed to minimize the impact of natural hazards and
conflict in emergency-prone countries and enhance the resilience of
affected communities. OFDA’s DRR activities work to strengthen
communities’resilience to and recovery from shocks and promote the
sharing of technology and expertise between the United States and the
affected country by building partnerships with national emergency
response agencies. OFDA frequently implements DRR activities in
conjunction with technical organizations, such as the U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Pan American Health
Organization (PAHO), and other offices within USAID. OFDA staff
carefully monitor grantee programs to ensure that resources are used
wisely and to determine whether projects need to be adapted to changing
conditions.
Fiscal Year 2010 Response
In
FY 2010, OFDA responded to 73 disasters in 56 countries to assist tens
of millions of disaster-affected people. The response to one of these
disasters—the January 12, 2010, Haiti earthquake—constituted one of the
largest in OFDA’s history. In Africa, OFDA assisted populations affected
by complex humanitarian emergencies, flooding, food security crises and
drought, lead poisoning, a cholera outbreak, a cyclone, refugee
returns, and earthquakes. Countries in the Asia and Pacific region
experienced flooding, complex humanitarian emergencies, tropical
cyclones, landslides, earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and a winter
emergency. In Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia (EMCA), OFDA
assisted populations affected by complex emergencies, floods, wildfires,
and food insecurity. Flooding affected populations across the Latin
America and Caribbean (LAC) region, where OFDA also responded to
wildfires, storms, a volcano, and earthquakes.
Following the onset of each of these disasters, affected populations
required immediate humanitarian assistance, including safe drinking
water, health care, sanitation services, emergency shelter, emergency
relief supplies, and food security interventions. In countries
experiencing complex emergencies, OFDA partners worked to protect
vulnerable civilians, increase the sustainability of longer-term
humanitarian responses, and facilitate the transition to development
assistance in relevant countries.
OFDA provided more than $855 million for disaster response programs
to support agriculture and food security, economic recovery and market
systems, health, nutrition, protection, shelter and settlements, and
WASH interventions; humanitarian coordination and information management
programs; search and rescue efforts; and logistical support and
emergency relief commodities. In FY 2010, OFDA deployed Disaster
Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) and other emergency teams to Brazil,
Chile, China, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Laos,
Madagascar, Mexico, Niger, Pakistan, the Philippines, Samoa, the
Solomon Islands,
and Vietnam. Of the more than $855 million provided in response to
emergencies, $9 million supported DRR programs, and $181 million
supported disaster response programs with DRR components. In addition to
allocating more than $855 million for disaster response programs, OFDA
provided more than $59 million for regional and global disaster support
and more than $59 million for operations and program support.
References
"USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Fact Sheet" (PDF). USAID. January 21, 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
"International Development and Food Assistance Act of 1975" (PDF). United States Government Publishing Office. U.S. Government. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
Olson, Richard Stuart. "The
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) of the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID): A Critical Juncture
Analysis, 1964-2003" (PDF). USAID. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
External links
"International Development and Food Assistance Act of 1975" (PDF). United States Government Publishing Office. U.S. Government. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
OFDA's unique disaster response capabilities help those suffering in the midst of the worst crises around the world.
Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chris Lussie, U.S. Navy
The Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is responsible for leading and coordinating the U.S. government’s response to disasters overseas.
OFDA responds to an average of 65 disasters in more than 50 countries
every year to ensure aid reaches people affected by rapid on-set
disasters—such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and floods—and slow-onset
crises, including drought and conflict. OFDA fulfills its mandate of
saving lives, alleviating human suffering, and reducing the social and
economic impact of disasters worldwide in partnership with USAID
functional and regional bureaus and other U.S. Government agencies.
Our Work
OFDA experts worldwide and in D.C. help countries
prepare for,
respond to, and recover from
humanitarian crises. OFDA works with the international humanitarian
community to give vulnerable populations resources to build resilience
and strengthen their own ability to respond to emergencies.
Emergency Response
When disaster strikes, OFDA sends regional and
technical experts to
the affected country to identify and prioritize humanitarian needs. In
the wake of a large-scale disaster, OFDA can deploy a Disaster
Assistance Response Team (DART) to coordinate and manage an optimal U.S.
Government response, while working closely with local officials, the
international community, and relief agencies. OFDA also maintains
stocks of emergency relief supplies in warehouses worldwide and has the
logistical and operational capabilities to deliver them quickly.
In 2016, conflict in South Sudan, Iraq, Yemen, and Ukraine left tens
of millions in need of assistance while Syria entered the sixth year of a
brutal civil war that has destroyed entire communities and affected far
too many lives.
At the same time, OFDA took action amid one of the worst droughts
Ethiopia has seen in 50 years. In partnership with the Government of
Ethiopia, OFDA deployed a DART to respond decisively to meet the
immediate needs of those most impacted by the drought, and has continued
to provide critical aid.
On April 25, 2015, when a powerful and deadly earthquake shook Nepal,
killing nearly 9,000 people, OFDA deployed a DART that worked around
the clock to provide medical care and perform urban search-and-rescue
operations.
In FY 2016, OFDA had (DARTs) responding to five major crises (Syria,
South Sudan, Iraq, West Africa Ebola outbreak, and Ethiopia drought) and
stood up just as many Response Management Teams (RMTs). In addition, we
responded to an earthquake in Ecuador, drought in Southern Africa, and
complex emergencies in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Lake Chad
Basin, Yemen, and more.
Just as we have in these countries, USAID remains committed to
responding to crises around the world, to help the people and places
most in need.
Disaster Risk Reduction
Globally, where unplanned urbanization and population growth have
placed more people in harm’s way, programs that help communities reduce
risks, lessen the impact of disasters, and build resilience are
critical. OFDA’s approach to
disaster risk reduction
recognizes the central role of national and local entities as disaster
managers and seeks to strengthen their ability to respond, emphasizing
community-based initiatives. OFDA helps establish early warning
networks, train schoolchildren on what to do when an earthquake strikes,
and teach local emergency personnel how to conduct search-and-rescue.
These activities not only reduce the number of lives and livelihoods
lost during a disaster, they help communities become resilient to future
crises. Achieving real resilience requires a range of approaches to
help communities develop the capacity to manage an array of recurring
shocks. OFDA’s disaster risk reduction programs are specifically
intended to limit the impact of these shocks.
Following the deadly 2004 earthquake and tsunami, the people of
Indonesia—with financial and technical support from OFDA—developed a
tsunami early warning and evacuation system that got people out of
harm’s way when a magnitude 8.6 earthquake struck off the island of
Sumatra in April 2012. Also, early warning systems and disaster
preparedness activities established by OFDA in Mozambique saved lives
following severe storms and flooding in January 2012.
Early Recovery
Recognizing the need to provide immediate relief while also
setting the stage for recovery and rehabilitation,
OFDA supports programs that give people tools to restart former jobs,
provide psychosocial care to traumatized disaster survivors, and prepare
individuals to get back on their feet.
A key component of helping communities transition from the emergency
to recovery phase of a disaster is linking OFDA’s work to the
development work of the USAID Mission in the affected country. For
example, OFDA is collaborating with USAID/Sri Lanka to ensure displaced
families have access both to emergency programs that provide employment
training and to programs that support the Mission’s long-term economic
development strategy. OFDA programs also seek innovative ways to help
disaster-affected communities begin to rebuild local economies. In many
African nations, OFDA provides mobile cash transfers, allowing people
to purchase food or other items to restart small businesses, playing a
direct role in helping local businesses and farmers recover. Such
programs not only help build resilience, they also protect hard-won
economic and development gains.
For general inquiries about the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, please email
ofdainquiries@ofda.gov.
For specific questions about OFDA's programs, view the
USAID/OFDA Regional Contact list.
For media inquiries about USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, please email
USAIDPressOfficers@usaid.gov.
Who We Are
USAID
is the lead U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global
poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their
potential.
In order to support these goals, President John. F. Kennedy created
the United States Agency for International Development by executive
order in 1961. Learn more about
USAID's History.
Assistance to Foreign Countries
U.S. foreign assistance has always had the twofold purpose of
furthering America's interests while improving lives in the developing
world. USAID carries out U.S. foreign policy by promoting broad-scale
human progress at the same time it expands stable, free societies,
creates markets and trade partners for the United States, and fosters
good will abroad.
Spending less than 1 percent of the total federal budget, USAID works in over 100 countries to:
Disaster Assistance
When a natural disaster or conflict destroys cities, homes and
markets, or when hunger and disease threaten to spread, people caught in
the middle are simply looking to survive. Helping them is at the core
of what USAID does every day, all around the world.
In fiscal year 2016, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster
Assistance responded to 52 crises in 52 countries, providing life-saving
assistance to tens of millions of people including those enduring:
USAID works to help those in crisis survive every day, wherever people are in need.
Learn more about: