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Responses
RECENT DISASTERS ONGOING EMERGENCIES
Upcoming Events

OFDA invites current and potential partners to attend a two-day workshop on OFDA's newly revised Guidelines for Unsolicited Proposals and Reporting.
  • Washington, DC: June 11 - 12, 2008


For more information contact ofdaworkshops@usaid.gov.

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You are here » USAID Home » Humanitarian Assistance » Disaster Assistance


   Latest: USG responds to cyclone in Burma

On May 2, Cyclone Nargis made landfall in Burma, affecting individuals throughout the southern part of the country. For more information, please see the country page.
 

 
Disaster Assistance Across the Globe Disaster Assistance Across the Globe
 

  Our Mandate

The Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is the office within USAID responsible for facilitating and coordinating U.S. Government emergency assistance overseas. As part of USAID’s Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA), OFDA provides humanitarian assistance to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and reduce the social and economic impact of humanitarian emergencies worldwide.
 

  Our Work
OFDA responds to all types of natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, cyclones, floods, droughts, fires, pest infestations, and disease outbreaks. OFDA also provides assistance when lives or livelihoods are threatened by catastrophes such as civil conflict, acts of terrorism, or industrial accidents. In addition to emergency assistance, OFDA funds mitigation activities to reduce the impact of recurrent natural hazards and provides training to build local capacity for disaster management and response.
 
 

  Message from the Director: Transitioning relief to development assistance

An OFDA staff member demonstrates how to use plastic sheeting to cover hurricane-damaged buildings in Nicaragua.
In northern Uganda, OFDA interventions help formerly displaced populations reestablish water systems in their villages of origin.

While new and escalating crises generally garner widespread attention, communities recovering from disasters also require strategic assistance to prevent further loss of life or livelihoods, alleviate suffering, and introduce longer-term sustainable development projects. As the lead office within USAID for providing humanitarian assistance in response to international disasters, OFDA is actively engaged in the transition from emergency relief programs to longer-term development programming. Currently, OFDA is working closely with USAID offices devoted to conflict mitigation, transition initiatives, and long-term development to create an integrated USAID strategy for the successful recovery of conflict-affected communities in northern Uganda.

For over a decade, OFDA-funded projects have assisted the estimated 1.8 million people displaced at the height of conflict in northern Uganda.

Click here to read the full message from the director.
 






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Last Updated on: May 08, 2008