Local residents and humanitarian personnel, including a logistics officer from USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, work to convey emergency relief items to populations affected by drought in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

International Organization for Migration

As part of its efforts to ensure a rapid response to humanitarian emergencies around the world, USAID/OFDA stores emergency relief supplies, such as kitchen sets, water containers, hygiene kits, blankets, and plastic sheeting for emergency shelter, at strategically located warehouses in Pisa, Italy; Subang, Malaysia; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Miami, United States.

In addition to stockpiling emergency relief items, USAID/OFDA deploys logistics personnel to assist directly with USG response efforts when a disaster strikes. With support from colleagues in Washington, D.C., the deployed logistics personnel manage the transport and consignment of relief commodities to USAID/OFDA partners operating in disaster-affected areas. USAID/OFDA’s Logistics Unit also provides technical assistance to non-governmental organizations, UN agencies, and host government counterparts in the immediate aftermath of a disaster and supports disaster risk reduction efforts to mitigate the impact of future disasters.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, through grants and in-kind contributions to humanitarian partners, USAID/OFDA provided more than $186 million for emergency relief commodities and associated transport, as well as for other logistical support.

Logistics and Relief Commodities Archive

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