International disaster assistance

organization for responding to disasters abroad, is presented. The policy statement treats OFDA"s overall objective - to strengthen a country"s ability to cope with disaster through reliance on its own resources - and its specific goals: to provide swift emergency relief to disaster victims and to assist in rehabilitation when this is beyond local capacities; to promote country preparedness and early warning activities; and, on a case by case basis, to mitigate disaster effects by providing a planning basis for longer-term reconstruction through U.S. economic development assistance programs. Other policy aspects include upgrading U.S. capability to define vulnerable populations and to recommend prevention measures and encouraging the participation of other donors. The report also details disaster operating policies as well as policy guidance supplements concerning the funding of disaster preparedness and early warning activities, the use of disaster-related technology, assistance in treating hazardous materials and oil pollution, and transportation of donated relief supplies. Final sections treat disaster assistance staffing and provide some examples from OFDA"s Lessons Learned Information System.