USAID - Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance

What do USAID and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have in common?? Not only do we respond to earthquakes around the world, but we also partner to deal with the effects of volcanoes and landslides. Scientists, engineers, and other technical experts from both organizations combine their know-how in our joint Volcano Disaster Assistance Program, as well as on our Earthquake Disaster Assistance Team and Landslide Disaster Assistance Team. These teams help communities around the world prepare for geological emergencies while standing ready to respond when they occur. USAID’s technical experts recently met in D.C. with their USGS counterparts to reaffirm the value of this partnership and maintain their readiness for saving lives.

When we need to solve problems and connect disaster-affected populations across vast distances with life-saving aid, we need maps. And today, we’re celebrating the USAID cartographers who are essential in visualizing the highly complex problems we face by creating these informative depictions of the world. #GISDay2024

Philippines Typhoon Response Update: This week, USAID announced an additional $1 million in humanitarian assistance for communities in the Philippines affected by Super Typhoon Man-yi, known locally as Super Typhoon Pepito. This new funding is helping partners like Action Against Hunger, seen here, reach families in Catanduanes province, one of the hardest hit areas, with water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies. Super Typhoon Man-yi is the seventh tropical cyclone to make landfall in the Philippines since late September, affecting more than 850,000 people and resulting in high levels of displacement and damage to critical infrastructure. This new funding adds to the $7+ million already provided by USAID to meet the needs of typhoon-affected populations in the Philippines so far in 2024. More here: https://lnkd.in/etgAgNwf

Today is World Toilet Day, and more than 1.5 billion people around the world still do not have basic sanitation services, such as private toilets or latrines. To put that in context, that is approximately 5 times the population of the United States. Toilets play a critical role in keeping people healthy and safe. Without toilets, deadly diseases can spread more rapidly. Toilets provide dignity, privacy, and safety. This is especially true after a disaster when people are at a higher risk of illness and death from waterborne diseases. So, to prevent people from getting sick and to keep them safe, USAID provides latrines, hygiene support and promotion, and safe drinking water. We also have sanitation & hygiene experts ready to deploy when disasters strike. #WorldToiletDay

With flooding from Tropical Storm Sara impacting thousands in Honduras, USAID’s Regional Disaster Assistance Program quickly surged support, helping Comisión Permanente de contingencias | COPECO reach affected communities with much needed hygiene and cleaning supply kits, and more support is on the way.

Back-to-back storms have devastated the Philippines over the last month. Super Typhoon Man-yi, known locally as Pepito, made landfall this weekend as the sixth major storm in less than a month. Approximately 10 million people have been affected and hundreds of thousands have been forced to leave their homes. USAID has remained steadfast in our commitment to the Philippines throughout this season. In response to Super Typhoon Man-yi, we are providing $1 million in support for emergency shelter, protection, water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance, as well as logistics support. This is in addition to the $5.5 million in aid we've already provided to the Philippines since September. Our disaster experts are on the ground conducting assessments and continuing to monitor the situation in coordination with our partners in the region. Video: Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere

NEW: Heavy rains in Colombia have caused flooding across much of the country, impacting 27 out of 32 departments and causing significant damage to homes, infrastructure, crops, and livestock. In response, USAID is providing support to partners working in Colombia to deliver essential relief items including shelter kits, hygiene kits, and other supplies.

From the Archives: 20 years ago, USAID responded to a massive locust infestation that affected 24 countries, from Cape Verde in West Africa all the way to Israel. Take a look at some of the incredible photos from the response and read our 2019 blog to hear from some of our disaster experts who were there. https://lnkd.in/e86hwE_N

Today, USAID announced more than $22 million in additional assistance to build resilience and improve food security in Madagascar. Provided through consortiums led by USAID partners Catholic Relief Services and Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA), this assistance will help up to 88,000 extremely vulnerable and marginalized households access health care, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services; build livelihoods; and withstand future shocks. This support builds on USAID’s longstanding emergency programming in Madagascar to respond to recurrent shocks, like drought and cyclones, while strengthening emergency response capacity and increasing resilience in the face of these disasters. ??: Catholic Relief Services

Heavy rainfall since early November has led to flooding and landslides in Costa Rica and caused significant damage to public infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and water systems, in Panama. Thousands of people are being impacted and the governments remain on red alert with even more rain anticipated through Monday. USAID is working with Panama's National Civil Protection System to provide hygiene kits, small water filters, and other supplies for use in flooded areas. Our disaster experts in the region continue to work with the local government and agencies to deliver aid to those in need.