Recurrent floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, and seasonal typhoons, as well as limited government response capacity in some countries, present significant challenges to vulnerable populations in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region. Between Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 and FY 2012, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) and USAID’s Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) have provided humanitarian assistance in response to a diverse range of natural and complex emergencies in the region, including cyclones in Burma and the Philippines; earthquakes in China, Indonesia, and New

Natural disasters in the American continent

In the last decade, the American continent suffered from 922 natural disasters, killing more than 247 thousand people, affecting over 82 million others and causing at least US$ 487 billion of economic damages. The Americas were the second most affected continent by natural disasters, after Asia, in terms of disaster occurrence and people killed. However the Americas took the largest share of economic damages during the decade (46% of worldwide damages).

MANILA - A US$750,000 cash grant from the United States Agency for International Development/Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) is powering the United Nations World Food Programme’s (WFP) Disaster Preparedness and Response project in four of the most disaster-prone provinces of Northern Luzon.

Elizabeth Ferris, Co-Director, Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement

COLOMBIA – FLOODS Heavy rain during the last month triggered by La Niña phenomenon in the tropical Pacific has caused extensive damage to Colombia’s 28 of the 32 departments. Floods and landslides caused 323 deaths, 321 injured and 7,450 homes destroyed.

ECUADOR – VOLCANIC ACTIVITY Activity in the Volcano Tungurahua of Ecuador began on Wednesday, 20 April, activating the country’s response plans. The volcano spewed ash clouds into the air, damaging crops and endangering health of residents in nearby villages.

What is UNDAC?
The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) is part of the international emergency response system for sudden-onset emergencies.
UNDAC was created in 1993. It is designed to help the United Nations and governments of disaster-affected countries during the first phase of a sudden-onset emergency. UNDAC also assists in the coordination of incoming international relief at national level and/or at the site of the emergency.

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