U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2009

摘要

In FY 2009, OFDA responded to 63 disasters in 49 countries to assist nearly 55 million disaster-affected people. In Africa, OFDA disaster responses included assistance to populations affected by complex emergencies, food insecurity, floods, a caterpillar infestation, a munitions explosion, a cyclone, and cholera and measles outbreaks. Countries in the Asia and Pacific region experienced flooding, cyclone, and earthquake damage, as well as the effects of ongoing conflict and the food price crisis. In Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia (EMCA), OFDA assisted populations affected by floods, mudslides, earthquakes, the food price crisis, and complex emergencies. Flooding affected populations across the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, where OFDA also responded to an earthquake and a school collapse. Following the onset of each of these disasters, affected populations required immediate humanitarian assistance, including safe drinking water, health care, sanitation services, emergency shelter, and food security interventions. In many disaster situations, populations required emergency relief supplies, including plastic sheeting, soap, kitchen sets, water containers, and blankets. In countries experiencing complex emergencies, OFDA partners worked to protect vulnerable civilians, increase the sustainability of longer-term humanitarian response, and facilitate the transition to development assistance in relevant countries.