Department of Defense Support to Foreign Disaster

Relief OperationsINTERHANDS Seminar

Mr. John Christiansen

24 October 2000

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Agenda

• Foreign Disaster Relief Overview

• Hurricane Mitch - A Wake-Up Call

• Disaster Preparedness Pays Off– Seminars– Exercises– Disaster Relief Warehouses

• Belize

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Foreign Disaster Relief Overview

• US military is not an instrument of first resort in responding to humanitarian crises – DoD supports civil relief agencies and US country teams; it does not lead

the efforts

• However, US military may be involved when:– Disaster exceeds the response capabilities of civilian relief agencies – There is urgent need for immediate relief– US military has unique assets to contribute

• When the US military does become involved:– The military mission should be clearly defined– The risks should be minimal– The involvement should aim at jump-starting civilian relief efforts– The exit conditions should be clear

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Requesting Disaster Relief Support from DoD

Host NationRequest for Supportfrom US Embassy

State DepartmentTransmits FormalRequest to DoD

1. Request made; Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)

Validates Request

DoD Staffs Request with Appropriate

Offices

2. Formal Requesttransmitted to DOD

The Joint Staff

3. Request Approved and Execute Memo signed out to Joint Staff

Regional Command

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Hurricane Mitch - A Wake-Up Call

Background• Hurricane Mitch struck Central America in fall of 1998

• 9,000 dead; 9,000 missing, presumed dead

• Storm damage over USD $4 Billion

US and International Assistance• DoD provided over 7,000 soldiers and spent more then US $100 million;

SAR, provision and transport of supplies, rudimentary road repair• USAID provided more than US $25 million for relief activities• More than 30 countries and numerous Non-Governmental (NGO) and

International Organizations (IO) contributed to response• UN recorded contributions of USD $403 million

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Hurricane Mitch

• Hurricane Mitch struck Central America on

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DISASTER PREPARDNESS PAYS-OFF

...helped to mitigate the affects of disasters.

Increased regional cooperation throughout the years has ...

FA-HUM 98Guatemala

FA-HUM 99Miami, Florida

FA-HUM 00Dominican RepublicFA-HUM 01

Costa Rica

DP SeminarCentral America

DP SeminarSouthern Cone

DP SeminarCaribbean

DP SeminarAndean Ridge

OFDA

CDERA

FEMA

DoD Cooperation with Federal and Regional Partners

DoD Cooperation with Federal and Regional Partners

• Disaster Relief Exercises• Disaster Relief Conferences• Humanitarian Exercises• Warehouse Initiatives

PAHO

OTHER(NGO’s, PVO’s)

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• Excess Property (EP):• Disaster Relief Supplies/Equipment

• Medical Supplies/Equipment

• School Supplies/Equipment

• Other Humanitarian

Assistance:• Search and Rescue (SAR) Training

• Engineer Technical Support

• Disaster Management Training

• Disaster/Technical/Logistical/ Medical Assessments

• Medical:• Disease/Vector Control

• Veterinary Services

• Medical Equipment Repair and Training

• Disease Surveillance System

• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Training

• Post Disaster Stress Management Training

• Medical/Dental Services

DoD Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP)“Powerful Engagement Tool”

Types of Projects and Activities

DoD Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP)“Powerful Engagement Tool”

Types of Projects and Activities

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CDERA DR Warehouse System(Building Self Sufficiency)

CDERA DR Warehouse System(Building Self Sufficiency)

JAMAICAANTIGUA

BARBADOS

TRINIDAD

CDERA

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National Disaster Relief Warehouses

(Building Self Sufficiency)

JAMAICAANTIGUA

BARBADOS

TRINIDAD

CDERA

REGIONAL

NATIONAL

CEPREDENAC

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Hurricane Keith

Background• Made landfall in Belize on 3 October• Government of Belize requested USG assistance on 2 October• Greatest damage reported on the islands of Caye Culker and San

Pedro• 60,000 homes destroyed, thousands more damaged

US and International Assistance• SOUTHCOM Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP) Disaster Relief

and Supplies (USD $500K) in place to empower Belize Civil Defense• HAP donations utilized to support Belize relief effort• DoD provided lift support for assorted medical and relief supplies• USAID deployed a DART team and a GO team from Miami with

hygiene kits• British Navy provided five helos and a ship that produce potable water

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Lessons Learned

• Prepare to prevent damage rather than to recover from it• Civil-military integration must be practiced!• Detailed, accurate assessments are vital• Emergency care does not equal rehabilitation needs or reconstruction requirements• Logistics control is vital• Work with the media; ensure accuracy