Stacks of USAID food bags.

The work of USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) is guided by fundamental humanitarian principles, policies, and frameworks that underpin our activities and help us meet the most critical humanitarian needs. Our work also derives from our mandate, which encompasses the fundamental aims of humanitarian action: saving lives, alleviating suffering, and reducing the physical, social, and economic impact of humanitarian crises. BHA’s authority and mandate flow from the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, in which the U.S. Congress designated USAID as the lead U.S. government coordinator of international disaster response. The following policies and reports explain how our core values and strategic goals shape our work around the world.