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Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance

OFDA’s Response CriteriaOFDA’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.

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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.

USAID/OFDA’s Role in a Disaster ResponseUSAID/OFDA’s Role in a Disaster Response

OFDA Response OptionsOFDA Response Options

1. Funding: $ 50,0002. Funding: Grants3. Humanitarian Commodities4. Personnel: Regional Advisors5. Personnel: Assessment Team 6. Personnel: Disaster Assistance Response Team7. Personnel: RMT - Response Management Team

(DC) 8. Any Combination of Above9. Recommend nothing

Most Common

Most Common

Large Events

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OFDA At Work: Global Presence

USAID / OFDA HQ

Regional Office

Stockpiles

OFDA COCOM Advisor

U.N. RepTOTAL OFDA

PERSONNEL = ~ 350Humanitarian Advisor

Miami (30,000 sq ft)•Plastic Sheeting•Blankets•Collapsible Water Jugs•Water storage bladders •Hygiene Kits •Water treatment trailers•Rubber boats•Kitchen sets

Pisa (50,000 sq ft)•Plastic Sheeting•Blankets•Collapsible Water Jugs•Water storage bladders•Hygiene Kits•Water treatment trailers

Dubai (38,000 sq ft)•Plastic Sheeting•Blankets•Collapsible Water Jugs•Hygiene Kits•Water storage bladders•Water treatment trailers•Rubber boats•Armored Vehicles

DOD and USAID Coordination During DOD and USAID Coordination During Disaster ResponseDisaster Response

OSD Guidance: DOD Mission OSD Guidance: DOD Mission in Foreign Disaster Reliefin 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

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

Validating the MissionValidating the Mission

Requesting DOD SupportRequesting DOD Support

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COCOM responds in support of USAID/OFDA

Joint Staff tasks COCOM (CJCS EXORD)

DOD approves HA/DR

USAID/OFDAresponds as

LFA

AMB/COM issues disaster declaration cable

For USG response, US Ambassador or COM validates emergency

HN requests/will accept USG aidHN overwhelmedIn interest of USG

If req’d, HN requests assistance from

international community (other nations, NGOs, IOs, regional response

mechanisms, etc.)

HN Responds

Disaster Occurs

If req’d, State or USAID requests DOD support and

may provide $$$ (Via EXECSEC Memo request or

letter/ interagency agreement)

Exception: COCOM can respond immediately to save lives if assets on hand (72 hr limit)

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OFDA Military Liaison TeamOFDA Military Liaison Team

Joint Humanitarian Operations Course (JHOC)

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

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• 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

Role of OFDA Civil Military AdvisorRole of OFDA Civil Military Advisor

– Large capacity airlift– Airfield and port

management– Off-loading and trans-

loading– Moving supplies and

people– Helicopter and air

support– Engineering

assessments– Security

Wholesale vs. Retail

What is the Mission?What is the Mission?

– Food/commodities distribution

– Camp management– Health/water and

sanitation programs– Processing/

screening/tracing of displaced persons

– Vaccinations

Wholesale Vs. Retail

What is the Mission?What is the Mission?

RFA to MITAM Process: MOST COMMON SITUATION(When someone wants assistance from the US Military)

USG Organizationor Implementing Partner

(UN, NGO, etc.)

Host Nation Civilian

Organizations

US Military HQ in-country

Other Donors, UN Agency, or NGO not directly funded

by the USG

Host Nation Military

Submit a RFA (USAID/OFDA or UN Form)

USAID/OFDA Response Team

in-country

Executes Mission, then reports back to

USAID/OFDA

Prioritizes and Validates RFAs

Daily MITAM issued by USAID/OFDA

Informs USAID/OFDA of the

Execution Plan, then DIRLAUTH

with the Requestor

Requests of an HA Nature

Requests purely Mil-Mil in nature

• 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)

USG Civ-Mil in the PacificUSG Civ-Mil in the Pacific