U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2008

摘要

In FY 2008, OFDA responded to 80 disasters affecting at least 202 million people in 62 countries. Conflict, flooding, drought, food insecurity, and a cyclone, as well as cholera, Ebola, and meningitis outbreaks, confronted populations in countries throughout Africa. Asia and the Pacific region experienced natural disasters, including a typhoon, cyclone, earthquake, floods, a winter emergency, and food insecurity, as well as complex emergencies. Countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia (EMCA) required assistance to meet humanitarian needs resulting from floods, wildfires, earthquakes, food insecurity, an industrial accident, a munitions explosion, and complex political and security challenges. Hurricanes, tropical storms, and flooding accounted for the majority of disaster declarations in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, with additional OFDA responses to drought, food insecurity, and a yellow fever outbreak. Populations affected by both natural disasters and complex emergencies required humanitarian assistance, including safe drinking water, emergency shelter, health care services, food security interventions, and emergency relief supplies such as soap, kitchen sets, water containers, and blankets. Countries facing insecurity or emerging from periods of political or economic volatility also needed support for local capacity building, protection of vulnerable populations, and coordination of response efforts.