Skip to main content    

                                - Search 

                                - Home
                                - About DSCA                                   - Mission, Vision, Values
                                  - Offices and Directorates
                                  - Leadership                                     - Mr. James Hursch
                                    - Mr. Michael F. Miller
                                    - Chief Master Sergeant Mikael “Mack” Sundin
                                    - Mr. J. Aaron Harding
                                    - Mr. Robert Helfant
                                    - Mr. Alan G. Gorowitz
                                    - Mr. David Ferrari
                                    - Ms. Heather Meyer
                                    - Dr. Celeste Ward Gventer
                                  - Employment
                                  - Contact Us
                                  - DSCA 50th Anniversary                                     - Security Cooperation History
                                    - Defense Trade and Arms Transfers
                                    - Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief
                                    - Institutional Capacity Building
                                    - International Military Training & Education Programs
                                    - DSCU: Academic Center for Security Cooperation
                                    - DSCA’S COMPONENTS AND THE DOD REGIONAL CENTERS
                                    - The Security Cooperation Enterprise
                                    - DSCA Historical Timeline
                                - Press & Media                                   - Major Arms Sales
                                - E-SAMM
                                - Programs                                   - Defense Trade and Arms Transfers                                     - Foreign Military Sales
                                    - Foreign Military Financing
                                    - Excess Defense Articles
                                  - Golden Sentry End Use Monitoring
                                  - Global Train and Equip                                     - Section 333 Authority to Build Capacity
                                    - Section 1263 Indo-Pacific Maritime Security Initiative (MSI)
                                  - Institutional Capacity Building                                     - Government Civilian Ministerial Advising Deployment Opportunities
                                    - Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS)
                                    - DOD Regional Centers
                                    - Partner Outreach and Collaboration Support
                                    - Institute for Security Governance
                                  - International Education & Training                                     - Combating Terrorism and Irregular Warfare Fellowship Program (CTIWFP)
                                    - International Military Education & Training
                                  - Humanitarian Assistance                                     - Humanitarian Assistance (HA) Program
                                    - Humanitarian Assistance Transportation Programs (HATP)
                                    - Excess Property (EP) Program
                                    - Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) Program
                                    - Foreign Disaster Relief (FDR)
                                - Resources                                   - Publications
                                  - SC Stakeholders
                                  - Foreign Military Sales FAQ
                                  - Trade Shows
                                  - Reports
                                - Videos 

# Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief

DSCA - A Look at U.S. Humanitarian Assistance from DSCA on Vimeo.

#### *Introduction* Introduction 

In March 1998, the Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Reform Initiative transferred responsibility for program management of Humanitarian Assistance and Demining to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) while it was still known as the Defense Security Assistance Agency. The acquisition of these functions considerably expanded the Agency’s Security Cooperation mission, and these programs continue to play a key role in DSCA’s Security Cooperation initiatives today.

Humanitarian Assistance (HA) programs support U.S. military forces by promoting peace and stability in regions of tension and by providing aid and relief in the aftermath of natural or manmade disasters. DSCA’s Humanitarian Assistance, Disaster Relief, and Mine Action (HDM) team provides oversight and executes program management over DoD HA activities. The DoD conducts HA to provide relief and aid for conditions such as human suffering, disease, and hunger.

HA programs are funded by the Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid (OHDACA) appropriation, first created in 1996. OHDACA funding enables five HA activities that equip, train, and provide essential services to U.S. Ally and partner nations in need. The Humanitarian Assistance program (HA),Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA), Excess Property (EP), and Humanitarian Assistance Transportation (HATP) programs build the capacity of a U.S. Ally and partner nation government to provide essential humanitarian services. Foreign Disaster Relief (FDR) activities support the broader U.S. government immediate response to international disasters by providing DoD-unique capabilities that deliver life-saving assistance. Ultimately, the OHDACA-funded activities aim to save lives, avert crises, and strengthen Security Cooperation relationships between partner nations and the United States.

DSCA provides strategic oversight and management of the DoD’s EP program, which makes nonlethal excess supplies of the Department available for humanitarian relief purposes. Working closely with the Security Cooperation Organizations (SCOs), this program has a long history of providing valuable excess property such as tents, generators, school furniture, and basic medical equipment to partners across the globe. In 2020, despite COVID restrictions, the EP program completed 19 donations worth an estimated $7 million supporting 13 partner nations.

DSCA also manages two DoD HATPs, which transport non-government organization (NGO) humanitarian assistance donations to partner nations worldwide. Through the Denton Program, the DoD provides space-available transportation of NGO donations on military vessels, whereas through the Funded Transportation Program, the DoD ships the NGO donations via most the economical means, subject to availability of funds. In 2020, these programs shipped 56 donations, supporting the humanitarian need in many countries and fostering good U.S. relationships in partner nations where DoD does not necessarily have a presence.

Under the Humanitarian Mine Action program, DSCA operates the Humanitarian Demining Training Center (HDTC), located at Ft. Lee in Virginia. HDTC serves as the DoD lead for training U.S. and partner nation personnel to build capacity in explosives remnants of war disposal and the physical security and stockpile management of conventional stockpiled munitions. HDTC’s staff serve as DoD’s sole humanitarian mine action subject matter experts, providing critical project development guidance and management oversight to Combatant Command humanitarian mine action assistance programs.

In the past year, DSCA has provided significantly more to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. DSCA contributed to the U.S. government global response through the OHDACA appropriation and $120 million in reprogrammed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds.  

Using OHDACA and reprogrammed CARES funds, DoD has executed more than $117 million in international COVID-19 support and is planning to implement another $56 million by the end of Fiscal Year 2021. Thus far, DoD has:
                                        - Provided field hospitals for various African, Central, and South American countries through U.S. Africa and U.S. Southern Command. Recipient countries include Ethiopia, Botswana, South Africa, Jamaica, Costa Rica, and many others.
                                        - Donated $2.2 million in beds and other equipment to COVID-19 response centers and quarantine camps in Honduras.
                                        - Made over 154,000 N95 masks available from the Albany, Georgia DSCA Humanitarian Assistance Excess Property warehouse to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and the U.S. military for their use in combatting the pandemic.
                                        - Transferred over 1,300 cots and $4 million in health assistance to the Philippine Government.

#### *faces of security* Faces of Security Cooperation: Col Gail S. Halvorsen 

While flying supply mission, “Operation Vittles,” during the Berlin Airlift, Col Gail Halvorsen also dropped candy for German children behind the Soviet blockade. This act of generosity earned him the nickname, “The Candy Bomber,” and also had a profound impact on the humanitarian doctrine we accept today. Click here for more.

#### *video* Video: DSCA - The Humanitarian Demining Training Center 

DSCA’s Humanitarian Demining Training Center (HDTC) serves as the DoD lead for training U.S. personnel to build partner nation capacity for the disposal of explosive remnants of war and the physical security and stockpile management of conventional stockpiled munitions. HDTC’s staff serve as the Department’s humanitarian mine action subject matter experts, providing critical project planning, development and execution oversight to Combatant Command humanitarian mine action programs. Watch this video to learn more and visit HDTC’s website for more information. 

DSCA - The Humanitarian Demining Training Center from DSCA on Vimeo.

#### *faces of security* Faces of Security Cooperation: Martin DuMond 

For our “DSCA at 50” campaign, we are spotlighting a long-time employee from DSCA’s Humanitarian Assistance and Mine Action Division! Meet landmine clearance training instructor, Martin DuMond. He travels to U.S. ally and partner nations to assess training requirements for projects and provides training for U.S. military personnel assigned to execute those projects.

Read more: Click here for more.

#### *HDTC Feature* HDTC Featured in 2021 “To Walk the Earth in Safety” 

DSCA’s Humanitarian Demining Training Center (HDTC) was recently highlighted in the State Department’s 2021 version of “To Walk the Earth in Safety” (TWEIS). TWEIS is a publication of the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM/WRA). PM/WRA’s mission is to reduce the harmful worldwide effects of at-risk, illicitly-proliferated, and indiscriminately used conventional weapons of war.

Read HDTC feature (PDF). 

Read the entire report (PDF).

#### *video* Fort Lee Feature on HDTC 

DSCA’s Humanitarian Demining Training Center has received a lot of attention this month as part of our “DSCA at 50” campaign! The Public Affairs Office of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Lee, where HDTC is headquartered, recently wrote a feature on the DSCA component and its mission.

Read the article.

#### *459th* 459th teams with Denton Program for humanitarian mission 

The 459th Air Refueling Wing donated laptops to underprivileged children in the Bahamas using the Denton Program, overseen by DSCA’s Humanitarian Assistance and Mine Action Division.  

Read the article.

## DSCA at 50

-  DSCA Celebrates 50th Anniversary 
-  Security Cooperation History 
-  Defense Trade and Arms Transfers 
-  Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief  
-  Institutional Capacity Building 
-  International Military Training & Education Programs 
-  DSCU: Academic Center for Security Cooperation 
-  DSCA’s Components and the DoD Regional Centers 
-  The Security Cooperation Enterprise 
-  DSCA Historical Timeline 

## Breadcrumb

-  Home   
-  DSCA Celebrates 50th Anniversary   
-                   Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief              

## Call to action2

## Learn More About Us.

Click Here

#### Follow Us On Social Media

                            - *linkedin*
                            - *youtube*
                            - *vimeo*
                            - *RSS*

## About DSCA

Mission, Vision, ValuesLeadershipDirectories and Divisions

Press & MediaMajor Arms Sales

#### E-SAMM

## Programs

Civilian Harm MitigationDefense Trade and Arms TransfersGolden Sentry End Use MonitoringGlobal Train & EquipInstitutional Capacity BuildingInternational Education & TrainingHumanitarian Assistance

## Resources

PublicationsSC StakeholdersForeign Military Sales FAQTrade Shows

## Defense Security Cooperation Agency

Contact UsFor DSCA Public Affairs Queries

## Subfooter

-  Accessibility/Section 508 
-  External Link Disclaimer 
-  Privacy & Security 
-  USA.gov 
-  DoDIG Hotline 
-  FOIA 
-  No Fear Act 
-  EEO