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A hurricane tears through Central America. Civil war creates refugees in the Balkans. Famine strikes the Horn of Africa. Two decades of war in Afghanistan its new government unable to deliver the most basic of services. In these and other situations around the world, the compassion of the American people goes pouring out to those in need through USAID.

Photo of a truck transporting USAID commodities to Afghanistan.
Truck transporting USAID
commodities to Afghanistan.

The United States gives more to those in crisis than any other country in the world. USAID is the U.S. Government agency that is responsible for directing these contributions to thousands of non-profit partners and international organizations like the World Food Program and UNICEF. In tandem with these organizations, the agency helps those affected by disaster to cope and then begin again by converting crisis situations into opportunities to promote peace, democracy, and economic growth. USAID ensures that all of this assistance is spent in the way that most effectively helps those who are in need.

The following USAID programs are key to providing humanitarian assistance:

Foreign Disaster Assistance: Responsible for facilitating and coordinating U.S. Government emergency assistance overseas. OFDA provides humanitarian assistance to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and reduce the social and economic impact of natural and man-made disasters worldwide.

Food for Peace: The primary means by which the United States donates food quickly to those people who have the immediate needs because of natural or man-made disasters. Agricultural goods provided by Food for Peace can also be sold or exchanged to help rural communities learn how to produce enough food to meet their own needs, and to teach these communities about nutrition and health.

Ocean Freight Reimbursement: Provides small competitive grants to over 50 U.S. partners each year to reimburse the partner's costs to transport donations, such as medical supplies, agricultural equipment, educational supplies, and building equipment, to developing countries.

Denton Program: Allows nongovernmental organizations or private citizens to use space available on U.S. Military cargo planes to transport humanitarian goods and equipment to countries in need, at little or no cost to them.

The Funds consists of three separate programs operated together:

Displaced Children and Orphans Fund (DCOF): Provides assistance to families who take in children orphaned as a result of war or disaster.

Patrick J. Leahy War Victims Fund (LWVF): For those disabled by conflict, provides assistance in getting prosthetics. Also provides assistance to polio victims.

Victims of Torture Fund (VOT): Supports programs that affirm the dignity of the survivor by restoring his or her position as a functioning and contributing member of the family and the community.

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