Independent review of the U.S. Government response to the Haiti earthquake : final report

Despite its uniqueness, however, it did present the opportunity for learning about the quality and coordination across key US disaster response assets that may be deployed in future large disasters. Recognizing this, the US Agency for International Development, along with its sister Federal agencies, sought to complement the large number of agency-specific After-Action Reports with a careful, clear-eyed look at the "whole of government" response. This report recognizes and applauds the heroic and altruistic measures taken by hundreds of US Government personnel, from diplomats, aid workers and soldiers on the ground to the highest level officials in Washington, starting within minutes after the quake. The authors also recognize that in any humanitarian disaster, and particularly one as large, complex and visible as this one, the rush to respond to human suffering can look - in retrospect - imperfect in many ways. This report documents those imperfections so that across the US Government we can create stronger and more robust systems for coordination and efficient deployment of resources during future responses. The report on the lessons learned from the first six months of the response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake was prepared by an independent expert team. While the team was contracted by USAID and obtained some logistical support from USAID"s Bureau of Policy, Planning and Learning and Office of Military Affairs, neither USAID nor any other US government agency was asked to provide clearance on the report"s content. Therefore, the text of this report represents the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the expert team, and does not necessarily represent the views of the US government. (Excerpt)