There is no evidence to suggest future disaster assistance requirements will be reduced. Although these conflicts fluctuate in intensity, their resolution is very difficult, and relief assistance may be necessary to meet emergency needs of civilian populations for long periods. Rapid population growth, coupled with inadequate infrastructure support systems in many developing countries, has increased the number of people vulnerable to natural hazards such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and volcanoes. Urban areas are expanding, with unsafe habitation in many shanty areas and slums. Population pressures also force people to move onto marginally viable and unsafe lands where natural hazards and their side effects have disastrous impact.
Disaster preparedness requires careful examination of relief and recovery planning.
In adherence to a Congressional recommendation, OFDA is expanding its search and rescue capacity to include two West Coast-based search and rescue teams. This expansion is expected to enhance the overall effectiveness of the search and rescue effort within the Pacific and Asia regions. These amounts represent OFDA's estimates as of February 2000 and are subject to change. Visit our contact page to find the appropriate resource.