Note: This document may not always reflect the actual appropriations determined by Congress. Final budget allocations for USAID's programs are not determined until after passage of an appropriations bill and preparation of the Operating Year Budget (OYB).

INTERNATIONAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE



FY 1997 FY 1998FY 1999
Actual EstimateRequest
International Disaster Assistance $190,000,000 $190,298,000See footnote 1 $205,000,000

The International Disaster Assistance program provides relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance to victims of natural and man-made disasters through the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). The International Disaster Assistance account also funds activities of the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), which focuses on the special needs of countries emerging from crises caused by political and ethnic conflict. The FY 1999 funding request of $205 million is an increase of $15 million over the $190 million level in FY 1997 and FY 1998. This request includes approximately $45 million for innovative, post-crisis transition initiatives. The OTI program is being expanded from the FY 1998 level of $30 million and the FY 1997 level of $25 million. The first priority in utilizing International Disaster Assistance resources will be given to life-saving, emergency assistance.

Disaster Assistance

USAID's Disaster Assistance program objectives are to: (1) meet the critical needs of targeted vulnerable groups in emergency situations; (2) increase adoption of mitigation measures in countries at risk of natural disasters; and (3) enhance development prospects in priority, post-conflict countries. To accomplish these objectives USAID has a well-established management structure and disaster relief experts who can draw on public and private sector resources to respond within 24 to 72 hours after a disaster. USAID fields assessment teams to identify needs and provides disaster assistance response teams (DARTs) to facilitate communication and organize a response. USAID also provides communication support equipment, search and rescue groups, medical assistance, shelter, food and potable water.

Effective humanitarian assistance requires that the USAID relief, mitigation, transition and development programs support each other, as described below. In addition, USAID collaborates closely with other assistance providers in the international community. This is particularly important both to coordinate programs and to share the burden of relief costs. U.S. private voluntary organizations (PVOs) are critically important partners and play an essential role in raising resources, providing assistance, and implementing programs. USAID's partnerships with U.S. PVOs and nongovernmental organizations include support for mechanisms to facilitate the exchange of information among international partners and to prevent duplication of effort.

Pursuant to section 493 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, the President has designated the USAID administrator as his Special Coordinator for Disaster Assistance. USAID works closely with the Departments of State and Defense to coordinate American relief efforts. For urgent disaster situations, 24-hour coverage is provided by staff to ensure the transmission of accurate information across different agencies, and between the disaster area and important response centers. Satellite communication equipment augments USAID's ability to carefully target emergency assistance and to coordinate with donors and other U.S. Government and nongovernmental agencies.

In 1997, USAID responded to 15 floods, 3 epidemics, 3 cyclones, 2 earthquakes, 3 droughts, a fire and 6 other declared disasters around the globe. In addition, USAID responded to 13 complex

emergencies such as those in Sudan, Northern Iraq, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), Rwanda and Bosnia. In the 28 countries where data is available for FY 1996, USAID's emergency assistance reached more than 60% of the affected population of 15.6 million. These 28 countries accounted for 76% of all natural disasters declared in FY 1996.

Complex emergencies -- those involving civil conflict often complicated by natural disasters -- account for an increasing share of the International Disaster Assistance budget. Over 70% of assistance to complex emergencies goes to African countries. Although these

conflicts fluctuate in intensity, their resolution is very difficult, and relief assistance may be necessary to meet emergency needs of civilian populations for long periods. USAID is placing increased emphasis on applying preparedness and mitigation lessons learned from natural disasters to complex disasters and supporting relief programs which encourage local participation and promote self-sufficiency.

Rapid population growth, coupled with inadequate infrastructure support systems in many developing countries, has increased the number of people vulnerable to natural hazards such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and volcanoes. Urban areas are expanding, with unsafe habitation in many shanty areas and slums. Population pressures also force people to move onto marginally viable and unsafe lands where natural hazards, such as hurricanes, earthquakes and volcanoes, and their side effects, such as flooding and mudslides, have disastrous impact. USAID's prevention efforts focus mainly on strengthening local preparedness and response capacities. Disaster preparedness requires careful examination of relief and recovery planning. USAID's field missions play an important role in helping government, municipal, and community leaders to prepare for disasters and to design development projects that fully reflect the risk from disasters. The results of prevention and mitigation efforts have been very encouraging. Of the 66 disaster-prone countries targeted for disaster prevention, preparedness and mitigation assistance, activities have been carried out in 36 of them. One of the most successful activities has been systematic preparedness training of national and local government officials and community groups in Latin America and the Caribbean. As a result, of these efforts, five of the thirteen targeted at-risk Latin American countries no longer require external assistance for emergencies, except in extraordinary catastrophic situations.

In addition to the continued challenge of responding to the growing needs of complex and natural disasters, USAID has a new responsibility of coordinating the U.S. Government response to incidents involving nuclear, biological and chemical disasters overseas. As a result, USAID is developing a new response capability and incident command system in this field of emerging threats.

Transition Initiatives

Countries experiencing a significant political transition or civil conflict have unique needs which are not addressed by the traditional disaster response. Timely, effective assistance to countries emerging from crises can make the difference between a successful or failed transition. The Office of Transition Initiatives, which was created in 1994, bridges the gap between emergency humanitarian assistance and long-term development assistance. USAID, through OTI, provides the U.S. Government with a fast, direct and flexible response mechanism to address the basic causes of armed conflict and fundamental post-conflict needs. In doing so, OTI uses such mechanisms as support for demobilization and reintroduction of ex-combatants into civilian society, and landmine awareness. OTI has also introduced innovative new activities such as community self-help projects that reduce tensions and promote democratic processes and conflict resolution. Programs are closely coordinated with other offices of USAID and the U.S. Government.

USAID has developed a methodology and a trained cadre of personnel whose speed, flexibility and political focus permit them to deal effectively with the basic causes of civil conflict. Management and program processes are engineered for speed and flexibility (e.g., quick needs assessments, communications support) so that decision-making can be decentralized to the field.


Experience in countries where transition programs have been undertaken, including Bosnia, Haiti, Liberia, Congo and Angola, has shown that failure to deal with the basic causes of armed conflict can have far-reaching consequences for the stability of other countries and entire regions. The demands and opportunities for peaceful transitions from crises are increasing. The Administration, including the National Security Council, the Departments of State and Defense, and USAID, increasingly views transition initiatives as high priority assistance to conflict-prone countries. Experience has clearly shown that these approaches are cost-effective ways for the U.S. Government to help deal with complex crises and to advance U.S. interests.

Footnote: 1 Include $298,000 of International Cooperative Administrative Support Services funds.
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