Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance
1
OFDA’s Response Criteria
1. Host country must ask for, or be willing to accept, USG
assistance.
2. The disaster is of such magnitude that it is beyond the
host country’s ability to respond adequately.
3. It is in the interest of the USG to provide assistance.
IF THESE 3 CRITERIA ARE MET:
The U.S. Ambassador issues a Disaster Declaration in SUPPORT of the host nation.
USAID/OFDA’s Role in a Disaster Response
 USAID/OFDA is the USG lead for
organizing and managing foreign
disaster assistance
– Develops overall response strategy
– Provides on-scene management in support of
U.S. Ambassador
– Provides USG funding to implementing
partners
– Collects and analyzes information on the
response
– Primary reporting source for the total USG
response
 When necessary, USAID/OFDA
requests support from other USG
agencies (including DoD) in HA/DR.
3
OFDA Response Options
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Funding: $ 50,000
Most Common
Funding: Grants
Humanitarian Commodities
Most Common
Personnel: Regional Advisors
Personnel: Assessment Team
Personnel: Disaster Assistance Response Team
Personnel: RMT - Response Management Team
(DC)
Large Events
8. Any Combination of Above
9. Recommend nothing
OFDA At Work: Global Presence
USAID / OFDA HQ
Regional Office
OFDA COCOM
Advisor
Stockpiles
U.N. Rep
Humanitarian Advisor
TOTAL OFDA
PERSONNEL = ~ 350
5
Miami (30,000 sq ft)
Pisa (50,000 sq ft)
Dubai (38,000 sq ft)
•Plastic Sheeting
•Blankets
•Collapsible Water Jugs
•Water storage bladders
•Hygiene Kits
•Water treatment trailers
•Rubber boats
•Kitchen sets
•Plastic Sheeting
•Blankets
•Collapsible Water Jugs
•Water storage bladders
•Hygiene Kits
•Water treatment trailers
•Plastic Sheeting
•Blankets
•Collapsible Water Jugs
•Hygiene Kits
•Water storage bladders
•Water treatment trailers
•Rubber boats
•Armored Vehicles
DOD and USAID Coordination During
Disaster Response
OSD Guidance: DOD Mission
in Foreign Disaster Relief
• The U.S. military is not instrument of first resort humanitarian
response but supports civilian relief agencies
• The U.S. military may be involved when:
– The military provides a unique service
– Civilian response capacity is overwhelmed
– Civilian authorities request assistance
• When the U.S. military does become involved:
– The military mission should be clearly defined
– The risks should be minimal
– Core DOD missions should not be affected
Validating the Mission
USAID/OFDA generates or
receives request for DoD
support from
humanitarian partner
consignees (NGO, U.N.
cluster, etc.)
USAID/OFDA, with USG
country team, validates
and prioritizes requests
Validated requests
forwarded to DoD for
review and execution
Requesting DOD Support
If req’d, HN requests
assistance from
international community
(other nations, NGOs,
IOs, regional response
mechanisms, etc.)
For USG response, US
Ambassador or COM
validates emergency
 HN requests/will
accept USG aid
HN overwhelmed
In interest of USG
Exception: COCOM can respond
immediately to save lives if
assets on hand (72 hr limit)
If req’d, State or USAID
requests DOD support and
may provide $$$ (Via
EXECSEC Memo request or
letter/ interagency
agreement)
DOD approves HA/DR
HN
Responds
Disaster
Occurs
AMB/COM issues disaster
declaration cable
USAID/OFDA
responds as
LFA
Joint Staff tasks COCOM
(CJCS EXORD)
COCOM responds in
support of USAID/OFDA
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OFDA Military Liaison Team
Military Liaison Team (MLT)
• Based in Washington, DC
• OFDA Advisors at
Geographic Combatant
Commands
–
–
–
–
SOUTHCOM
PACOM
EUCOM
AFRICOM
– CENTCOM
• MLT surge staff
• Civ-Mil Advisors on DART
or OFDA Field Offices
Joint Humanitarian
Operations Course (JHOC)
11
Role of OFDA Civil Military Advisor
• Provide input to military planning --- all phases,
all levels, all orders (responses and exercises)
• Recommend appropriate uses of military assets
• Screen, validate, and prioritize requests for
military support coming from UN/NGOs/IOs as
well as other parts of DoD
• Act as intermediary between the military and
the UN/NGOs/IOs
12
What is the Mission?
Wholesale vs. Retail
– Large capacity airlift
– Airfield and port
management
– Off-loading and transloading
– Moving supplies and
people
– Helicopter and air
support
– Engineering
assessments
– Security
What is the Mission?
Wholesale Vs. Retail
– Food/commodities
distribution
– Camp management
– Health/water and
sanitation programs
– Processing/
screening/tracing of
displaced persons
– Vaccinations
RFA to MITAM Process: MOST COMMON SITUATION
(When someone wants assistance from the US Military)
USG Organization
or Implementing Partner
(UN, NGO, etc.)
Other Donors, UN Agency,
or NGO not directly funded
by the USG
Host Nation
Civilian
Organizations
Host Nation
Military
Requests of an
HA Nature
Submit a RFA
(USAID/OFDA or UN Form)
USAID/OFDA
Response Team
in-country
Prioritizes and
Validates RFAs
Daily MITAM
issued by USAID/OFDA
Executes Mission,
then reports back to
USAID/OFDA
Informs
USAID/OFDA of the
Execution Plan,
then DIRLAUTH
with the Requestor
US Military HQ
in-country
Requests purely
Mil-Mil in nature
USG Civ-Mil in the Pacific
• Use of US military assets for relief operations in the
Pacific has been infrequent due to proximity.
• In the event of a rapid onset disaster, DoD can
exercise 72hr Life & Limb Authority (During
Exercises and Patrols)
• Due to the increased focus on the Pacific, there will
be a more sustained presence of DoD assets that
can be utilized during major relief operations.
• Outside of major responses, increased presence of
DoD engagements in HADR during port visits and
joint excercises. (Mil-Mil)