The Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) leads and coordinates the U.S. government’s efforts to respond to disasters worldwide.
Each year, OFDA responds to an average of 65 disasters across more than 50 countries. These include rapid-onset disasters like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and floods, as well as slow-onset crises such as drought and conflict. The office works in partnership with other U.S. government agencies to save lives, reduce human suffering, and lessen the social and economic effects of disasters.
How OFDA Operates
OFDA experts, both in Washington, D.C., and globally, help countries prepare for, manage, and recover from humanitarian emergencies. By working with the international humanitarian community, OFDA provides vulnerable populations with the tools and resources they need to become more resilient and improve their ability to handle crises.
Emergency Response
When disasters occur, OFDA deploys regional and technical experts to the affected areas to assess and prioritize humanitarian needs. For large-scale emergencies, OFDA can send a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to manage and coordinate the U.S. Government's response. These teams work closely with local authorities, international organizations, and relief agencies. OFDA also maintains emergency relief supplies in warehouses worldwide and can quickly deliver aid wherever it is needed.
In 2016, conflicts in South Sudan, Iraq, Yemen, and Ukraine left millions in desperate need of humanitarian support, while Syria faced its sixth year of devastating civil war, shattering communities and displacing countless people.
During one of Ethiopia's worst droughts in 50 years, OFDA partnered with the Ethiopian government to address the crisis. A DART team was deployed to provide immediate assistance to those most impacted by the drought, and ongoing aid efforts continue to meet critical needs.
On April 25, 2015, after a deadly earthquake struck Nepal and claimed nearly 9,000 lives, OFDA sent a DART to provide emergency medical care and support urban search-and-rescue operations.
In FY 2016, OFDA deployed DARTs to five major crises, including Syria, South Sudan, Iraq, the West Africa Ebola outbreak, and the Ethiopian drought. Response Management Teams (RMTs) were also established to assist. Additionally, OFDA responded to an earthquake in Ecuador, severe drought in Southern Africa, and complex emergencies in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, the Lake Chad Basin, and other regions.
Disaster Risk Reduction
With unplanned urbanization and growing populations placing more people at risk, programs that reduce disaster impacts and build community resilience are essential. OFDA’s disaster risk reduction strategy focuses on empowering national and local authorities to manage disasters effectively. The approach highlights community-based efforts to strengthen local preparedness and response.
OFDA supports initiatives like establishing early warning systems, training schoolchildren on earthquake safety, and teaching emergency personnel search-and-rescue techniques. These programs not only save lives and protect livelihoods during crises but also help communities build long-term resilience to future disasters. Achieving resilience requires a combination of efforts to ensure communities can manage recurring challenges and shocks. OFDA’s programs are specifically designed to limit the impact of such events.
After the devastating 2004 earthquake and tsunami, Indonesia, with financial and technical support from OFDA, created a tsunami early warning and evacuation system. This system successfully moved people to safety when a magnitude 8.6 earthquake struck Sumatra in April 2012. Similarly, early warning systems and disaster preparedness initiatives implemented by OFDA in Mozambique helped save lives during severe storms and flooding in January 2012.
Early Recovery
OFDA recognizes the importance of providing immediate relief while laying the groundwork for recovery and rehabilitation. The programs it supports focus on helping individuals restart their jobs, offering psychosocial care for survivors coping with trauma, and preparing communities to rebuild and recover.
A crucial part of moving from emergency response to recovery is connecting OFDA’s efforts with ongoing development work in the affected country. For example, in Sri Lanka, OFDA collaborates to ensure displaced families have access to employment training programs while supporting the country’s broader economic development goals.
OFDA also explores innovative approaches to rebuilding local economies in disaster-affected areas. In several African nations, OFDA facilitates mobile cash transfers that allow individuals to buy food or essential items, helping them restart small businesses. This plays a key role in revitalizing local markets and supporting farmers and business owners as they recover.
These programs not only help communities recover quickly but also strengthen resilience, ensuring that economic and development progress is protected and sustained.
