USAID supported families in Tajikistan after torrential rains caused floods and mudslides to wipe out their homes.

Patricia Hampton, USAID/OFDA

Humanitarian action not only saves lives, it prepares communities to respond to disasters, protects hard-won development gains, and helps people get back on their feet after a crisis strikes.

It is a core American value to help those most in need. 

USAID proudly assumes the role of working with and for disaster-affected people on behalf of the U.S. Government and the American people. Every day, USAID makes life better for those in the midst of crisis. Whether we are rescuing a teenager from a collapsed building in Haiti, caring for a malnourished child in Somalia, or giving medical care to those injured by conflict in Syria, USAID’s crisis response efforts represent the best of American generosity.

In addition to saving lives, USAID helps communities prepare for disasters. This protects hard-won development gains and helps people get back on their feet after a crisis strikes.

Success Stories

• Bolstering Manufacturing Capacity for Rapid Response in Fiji
• Engaging Youth for Disaster Risk Reduction in RMI
• Empowering Women and Girls in Yemen
• Providing Food Vouchers to Venezuelans in Ecuador
• AHA Centre Emerges as Regional Leader in Disaster Response
• NGO Supports Disaster-Resilient Host Communities in Cox's Bazar
• IOM Fortifies Cyclone Preparedness in Bangladesh
• Local Solutions Increase Agricultural Resilience in FSM
• Providing Cash Assistance to Venezuelans in Peru
• Supporting Returnees in the DRC
• Relief Organization and Private Sector Partners Work Together to Provide Clean Water
• Supporting Small Farmers to Recover Livelihoods in Yemen
• Supporting Health Care Access for Vulnerable Venezuelans
• Supporting Conflict-Affected Communities in Nigeria Through Moringa Tree Cultivation
• Saving Lives in Mozambique
• Ensuring Access to Water in Kenya
• Supporting Returnees in the DRC
• Enhancing Livelihoods for Venezuelans in Colombia
• Ensuring Continued Health Care During Displacement in CAR
• Helping Communities Access Safe Drinking Water in Palau
• Providing Healthcare for Displaced Persons in Libya
• Cultivating Community-Based Disaster Risk Management in Tonga
• Planting Seeds for Disaster Resilience in Micronesia
• Helping Communities Displaced by Severe Flooding in Burundi
• Enhancing Flood Preparedness in Nepal
• Fighting Malnutrition in Ethiopia Through Mobile Health and Nutrition Teams
• Iraq - Providing Shelter Support in the Ninewa Plains
• Cash-for-Work Programs Empower Yemenis
• Iraq - Providing Psychosocial Support in Sinjar
• OFDA Disaster Specialist in Dominica Weathers Hurricane, Initiates Emergency Response
• Improving Access to Water in Dominica
• Improving Shelter and Protection for Displaced Iraqis (296kb PDF)
• Meeting Urgent Shelter Needs in Dominica
• Assessing Earthquake Affected Buildings in Mexico City
• Saving Lives in Eastern Borno (217kb PDF)
• Helping Drought-Affected Farmers in Ethiopia Regain Their Livelihoods (174kb PDF)
• Cash-for-Training Supports Vulnerable Families in South Sudan (234kb PDF)
• Alleviating Child Malnutrition in Food-Insecure South Sudan (174kb PDF)
• Providing Safe Drinking Water With Community Support in South Sudan (143kb PDF)
• Preventing Disease Outbreaks in Nepal (321kb PDF)
• South Sudan - Creating Safe Spaces for Conflict-Affected Children (338kb PDF)
• Scaling Up Food Assistance in Northeastern Nigeria (181kb PDF)
• Expanding Humanitarian Access in Northeastern Nigeria (239kb PDF)
• Developing Local Child Protection Capacity in South Sudan (305kb PDF)
• Encouraging Nonviolent Play in South Sudan
• USAID Helps Haitian Families Return Home After Hurricane Matthew (377kb PDF)
• USAID Helps Cattle Farmers in Zimbabwe Withstand Drought (165kb PDF)
• Fostering Healthy Communities in South Sudan (179kb PDF)
• Haiti - Providing Clean Water to Hurricane-Affected Families (200kb PDF)
• USAID Empowers Mothers to Fight Malnutrition in Niger (261kb PDF)
• Helping Haiti Recover from Hurricane Matthew (356kb PDF)
• Improving Sanitation in South Sudan (359kb PDF)
• USAID Helps Improve Safety in Guatemalan Neighborhoods (295kb PDF)
• Leveraging Science, Preserving Portal Livelihoods in Mongolia (217kb PDF)
• Protecting Livelihoods and Building Resilience in Drought-Prone Communities (252kb PDF)
• Confronting El Niño in Somalia (292kb PDF)
• Assessing Humanitarian Need in Urban Settings in Kenya (239kb PDF)
• Overcoming Access Challenges to Deliver Assistance in Afghanistan (210kb PDF)
• USAID-Trained USAR Teams Respond to Ecuador Earthquake (251kb PDF)
• USAID Deploys Structural Engineers to Earthquake-Affected Ecuador (201kb PDF)
• School Earthquake Safety Program Saves Lives in Nepal (230kb PDF)
• PEER Strengthens Nepal's Disaster Response Capacity (244kb PDF)
• Non-Structural Mitigation Critical to Earthquake Safety (212kb PDF)
• Damage Assessments for Response and Recovery in Nepal (240kb PDF)
• USAID Spurs Household Vegetable Growth in Senegal (290kb PDF)
• USAID Help's Contain Guinea's Ebola Outbreak (255kb PDF)
• USAID Builds Economic Resilience in Mali (258kb PDF)
• USAID Bolsters Data Collection to Assist Families in the Sahel (168kb PDF)
• Guinea - Ebola Survivor Protects His Community (217kb PDF)
• Strengthening Disaster Management Systems in Burma (265kb PDF)
• An Integrated Approach to Assistance in the Philippines (221kb PDF)
• Strengthening Response Readiness in Chile (183kb PDF)
• USAID Assists Boko Haram-Affected Families in Cameroon (263kb PDF)
• 'Go Bags' Increase Earthquake Preparedness in Nepal (141kb PDF)
• Helping Typhoon-Affected Families in the Philippines Return Home (159kb PDF)
• USAID Tracks Displaced Families in Mali (158kb PDF)
• Livelihood Opportunities in East Timor (156kb PDF)
• Learning to Map Risk in Indonesia (116kb PDF)
• The Key to Success in East Timor (150kb PDF)
• Child-Centered Disaster Preparedness in Thailand (249kb PDF)
• Innovative Drought Response Builds Pastoralist Resiliency (49kb PDF)
• Increasing Water Access in Ethiopia (48kb PDF)
• Haiti: Helping Communities Rebuild (62kb PDF)
• Mali: USAID Provides Timely Support to Malian IDPs (136kb PDF)
• Prudent Planning Saves Lives (221kb PDF)