Attachments
OVERVIEW
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Countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region experience a range of natural hazards, including droughts, earthquakes, floods, forest fires, hurricanes, landslides, tsunamis, and volcanoes. El Niño and La Niña, extreme phases of natural climate cycles, periodically exacerbate the impacts of hydrometeorological events in the LAC region. Unplanned urban expansion, environmental degradation, and poor land-use management also increase populations’ vulnerability to natural hazards.
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USAID/OFDA supports DRR programs in LAC that build resilience and improve emergency preparedness, mitigation, and response capacity at the local, national, and regional levels. USAID/OFDA focuses on strategic, context-specific programs designed to meet particular risk reduction needs in each country, with capacity building a consistent theme across DRR activities.
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In FY 2016, USAID/OFDA provided nearly $25.6 million to support DRR initiatives throughout the LAC region. Through staff based in the regional office in Costa Rica and the field office in Haiti, USAID/OFDA engaged directly with community members, national officials, and other stakeholders to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate the effects of disasters.