Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance

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Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance
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OFDAs 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
countrys 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/OFDAs 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.

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OFDA Response Options

• Funding 50,000
• Funding Grants
• Humanitarian Commodities
• Personnel Regional Advisors
• Personnel Assessment Team
• Personnel Disaster Assistance Response Team
• Personnel RMT - Response Management Team (DC)
• Any Combination of Above
• Recommend nothing

Most Common
Most Common
Large Events
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OFDA At Work Global Presence
USAID / OFDA HQ
OFDA COCOM Advisor
Regional Office
TOTAL OFDA PERSONNEL 350
Stockpiles
U.N. Rep
Humanitarian Advisor
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• 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

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DOD and USAID Coordination During Disaster
Response
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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

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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

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Requesting DOD Support
Exception COCOM can respond immediately to save
lives if assets on hand (72 hr limit)
If reqd, State or USAID requests DOD support and
may provide (Via EXECSEC Memo request or
letter/ interagency agreement)
HN Responds
Disaster Occurs
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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)
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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

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What is the Mission?
Wholesale vs. Retail

• Large capacity airlift
• Airfield and port management
• Off-loading and trans-loading
• Moving supplies and people
• Helicopter and air support
• Engineering assessments
• Security

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What is the Mission?
Wholesale Vs. Retail

• Food/commodities distribution
• Camp management
• Health/water and sanitation programs
• Processing/ screening/tracing of displaced
  persons
• Vaccinations

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RFA to MITAM Process MOST COMMON SITUATION (When
someone wants assistance from the US Military)
USG Organization or Implementing Partner (UN,
NGO, etc.)
Host Nation Civilian Organizations
Other Donors, UN Agency, or NGO not directly
funded by the USG
Host Nation Military
Requests of an HA Nature
Submit a RFA (USAID/OFDA or UN Form)
Requests purely Mil-Mil in nature
USAID/OFDA Response Team in-country
Executes Mission, then reports back to USAID/OFDA
Prioritizes and Validates RFAs
Informs USAID/OFDA of the Execution Plan, then
DIRLAUTH with the Requestor
Daily MITAM issued by USAID/OFDA
US Military HQ in-country
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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)