USAID coordinates international disaster assistance provided by the U.S. Government through the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA). USAID/OFDA responds to natural, man-made, and technological disasters.

USAID/OFDA’s mandate is to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and reduce the social and economic impact of disasters. Strategically, USAID/OFDA has two major objectives:

1. to address critical needs of targeted vulnerable groups in emergency situations, and
2. to increase adoption of preparedness and mitigation measures in countries at greatest risk of natural and man-made disasters.

PREPARATION AND MITIGATION PROGRAMS

Kathmandu Valley Earthquake Risk Management Plan:
The National Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET) is implementing the multi-year project with the Government of Nepal (GoN), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), schools, and local communities. The project promotes increased earthquake awareness and preparedness by coordinating and monitoring a long-term earthquake risk reduction plan for the Kathmandu Valley.

Program for the Enhancement of Emergency Response (PEER), 3:
NSET is implementing the five-year program to create a large pool of trainers instructors from emergency response agencies in the Asia region. Areas covered include collapsed structure search and rescue and hospital emergency preparedness. Specifically, the program increases the corps of trainers, adapts courses to national requirements, introduces a hospital-preparedness course for mass casualties, and creates a coordinating network of disaster responders in each country. This program builds upon the PEER 2 program that NSET implemented from March 2003 to March 2009 in India, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

ASSISTANCE TO VULNERABLE GROUPS

Reintegration and Resettlement for Conflict-affected Populations: The program provides critically needed basic services and livelihood opportunities for internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and conflict-affected communities in western Nepal. The NGO International Relief and Development (IRD) is implementing the project, which ends in August 2009.

Integrated Assistance to IDPs, Returnees, and Conflict-Affected Communities in Western Nepal:
The program addresses the immediate and longer-term protection and livelihood needs of IDPs, returnees, and conflict-affected populations in a systematic and sustainable way through local government, civil society, and market systems. Approaches include increasing government support and community capacity to make informed decisions on the recovery process, and equipping communities to take responsibility for economic recovery and development. The program also builds upon government and community capacity for disaster and conflict mitigation, preparedness, and response. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is implementing the program until the project ends in July 2009.

Protection of IDPs through Provision of Information, Counseling and Legal Assistance (ICLA):
The program enhances the protection of IDPs and returnees and the capacity to seek sustainable solutions to displacement through provision of information, counseling, and legal assistance. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is implementing the project, which is scheduled to end in September 2009, in 16 districts of the Far-West, Mid-West, Central and Eastern development regions of Nepal.

Protection of Women against Gender-Based Violence (GBV):
The Asia Foundation is implementing a $350,000 program that seeks to reduce the incidence and impact of GBV in six districts of west Nepal. USAID/OFDA’s assistance will help increase awareness of GBV and ensure that affected individuals, including widows, receive critical psychosocial counseling, medical treatment, education, skills training, and job placement services to reduce further risk. The program will end in August 2009.

Support to the U.N. World Food Program (WFP):
USAID/OFDA assists WFP with logistical support to provide food assistance to vulnerable populations affected by conflict and high food prices in Nepal.

Flood Relief Assistance:
USAID/OFDA responded with the immediate provision of emergency relief supplies and shelter materials to approximately 70,000 individuals after the August 2008 Koshi River embankment breach. In order to assist the GoN in addressing the critical needs of flood-affected communities, USAID/OFDA provided $921,100 through the International Federation of the Red Cross to the Nepal Red Cross Society, as well as to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Save the Children (SC).