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Republic of the Marshall 
Republic of the Marshall 
Islands
Islands
MECHANISMS FOR COPING 
MECHANISMS FOR COPING 
WITH DISASTERS
WITH DISASTERS
Regional  Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT) Workshop 
Regional  Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT) Workshop 
Nadi
Nadi
, Fiji 
, Fiji 
2 
2 
–
–
4 December 2009
4 December 2009
Outline
Outline
Brief background 
Brief background 
History of events
History of events
US Oversight on disaster
US Oversight on disaster
New arrangements
New arrangements
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Way forward
Way forward
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BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Low lying islands and atolls
Low lying islands and atolls
1
1
-
-
2 meters above sea levels
2 meters above sea levels
Small economic base
Small economic base
Population about 60,000 
Population about 60,000 
About half is under 15 years of age
About half is under 15 years of age
Historical pattern of 
Historical pattern of 
Emergencies in the Islands
Emergencies in the Islands
32 declared disasters since 1963
32 declared disasters since 1963
22 Typhoons, 3 tropical storms, 3 waves, 
22 Typhoons, 3 tropical storms, 3 waves, 
2 fires and 2 droughts 
2 fires and 2 droughts 
$130 million of assistance since 1990 
$130 million of assistance since 1990 
80% happened between Dec and April
80% happened between Dec and April
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Political 
Political 
affiliation
affiliation
US Trust territory
from 1944 - 1986
Compact of Free
Association (COFA)
1986
1994
COFA Amendment
New 
Arrangements
COFA 1986
COFA 1986
Article X
Article X
Freely associated states  considered a state 
Freely associated states  considered a state 
or a territory of the U.S. in terms of disaster 
or a territory of the U.S. in terms of disaster 
assistance arrangements
assistance arrangements
FEMA is the responsible US Agency
FEMA is the responsible US Agency
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Amendment 
Amendment 
of Article X
of Article X
2004 Legislation 
2004 Legislation 
-
-
transfer of responsibility to 
transfer of responsibility to 
“
“
save lives 
save lives 
and to protect property . . .
and to protect property . . .
”
”
to USAID
to USAID
2008 creation of 
2008 creation of 
Agreement on the Establishment and 
Agreement on the Establishment and 
Use of the Disaster Assistance Emergency Fund 
Use of the Disaster Assistance Emergency Fund 
(DAEF) 
(DAEF) 
UN request for assistance is pre
UN request for assistance is pre
-
-
requisite to US 
requisite to US 
assistance
assistance
…
…
New Arrangements
New Arrangements
NEW
NEW
ARRANGEMENTS
ARRANGEMENTS
USAID
USAID
Primary decision
Primary decision
-
-
making and management unit for 
making and management unit for 
hybrid program
hybrid program
Provide progress report to Embassy
Provide progress report to Embassy
Assist Embassy with DAEF approval role
Assist Embassy with DAEF approval role
Participate in US 
Participate in US 
“
“
country team
country team
”
”
meetings with 
meetings with 
Embassy
Embassy
Supervise Implementation Partners activities
Supervise Implementation Partners activities
Through Embassy, develop solid relationships with 
Through Embassy, develop solid relationships with 
RMI Officials
RMI Officials
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DAEF Fund Agreement
DAEF Fund Agreement
RMI and US 400k annually
RMI and US 400k annually
$50k RMI President approval after declare state of 
$50k RMI President approval after declare state of 
emergency
emergency
Not more than $100k per annum
Not more than $100k per annum
Beyond 100k p.a. requires US Chief of Mission 
Beyond 100k p.a. requires US Chief of Mission 
concurrence for additional $50k
concurrence for additional $50k
Next level would require President of RMI to request US 
Next level would require President of RMI to request US 
for a presidential disaster declaration
for a presidential disaster declaration
New Arrangements
New Arrangements
“
“
presidential 
presidential 
disaster
disaster
”
”
Any occasion, regardless of cause, U.S. President 
Any occasion, regardless of cause, U.S. President 
determines assistance is needed to supplement 
determines assistance is needed to supplement 
efforts of national government and the international 
efforts of national government and the international 
community, including USAID
community, including USAID
U.S. Government in consultation with the National 
U.S. Government in consultation with the National 
Government will prepare a relief assistance and 
Government will prepare a relief assistance and 
reconstruction plan including the identification of 
reconstruction plan including the identification of 
the types and amount of assistance to be provided
the types and amount of assistance to be provided
Made within 60 days of the event
Made within 60 days of the event
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December 2008
December 2008
Wave Surge hits RMI and FSM
Wave Surge hits RMI and FSM
RMI response
RMI response
USAID/FEMA response
USAID/FEMA response
International Community Response
International Community Response
Improving understanding on current arrangements 
Improving understanding on current arrangements 
(internal and external)
(internal and external)
Update SOPs and develop Cluster SOPs
Update SOPs and develop Cluster SOPs
Look at a closer and wider partnership arrangements 
Look at a closer and wider partnership arrangements 
to include non
to include non
-
-
government and international 
government and international 
organizations
organizations
Coordination between UN and USAID
Coordination between UN and USAID
Reporting requirements 
Reporting requirements 
v.s
v.s
. the fatigue issue
. the fatigue issue
Training needs regionally and also nationally
Training needs regionally and also nationally
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
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Way 
Way 
Forward
Forward
Secured DAEF Fund
Secured DAEF Fund
After 
After 
fy
fy
2023 full ownership
2023 full ownership
Accessing International assistance
Accessing International assistance
Cluster Approach if appropriate
Cluster Approach if appropriate
Development / Implementation of 
Development / Implementation of 
DRM NAP
DRM NAP
Linking support from SOPAC 
Linking support from SOPAC 
including pacific partners and PHT
including pacific partners and PHT
RMI DRM NAP Prioritized Hazards
RMI DRM NAP Prioritized Hazards
Human
Human
–
–
Induced
Induced
Fire 
Fire 
Aircraft accidents 
Aircraft accidents 
Oil spill
Oil spill
Water supply
Water supply
Contamination
Contamination
Health epidemics
Health epidemics
Natural
Natural
Typhoon
Typhoon
Storm surge
Storm surge
Drought
Drought
Tsunami
Tsunami
Volcanoes / 
Volcanoes / 
earthquakes
earthquakes
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THANK YOU
THANK YOU