Tim Callaghan, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean for USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, has led numerous hurricane responses for the Agency, including Hurricanes Iota and Eta in 2020 and Hurricane Dorian in 2019. He explains how USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance prepares year-round for Atlantic hurricane season. …

On February 24, 2022, Russian forces invaded Ukraine, causing widespread destruction and triggering a humanitarian crisis. A year after Putin’s unprovoked invasion, nearly 18 million people — about half of the people currently living in Ukraine — remain in need of aid. While nearly 16 million people have been reached…

On February 6, life for millions of people across southern Türkiye and northern Syria changed in an instant as they were jolted from their sleep. At 4:17 A.M. that morning, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Gaziantep Province and was followed by thousands of powerful aftershocks, including a magnitude 7.5 earthquake…

When disaster strikes, threats of violence and abuse facing women and girls multiply. We spoke with Sarah Charles, Assistant Administrator of USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), about how she became passionate about this issue and what USAID is doing to help. — Disasters don’t affect everyone equally. In the wake of catastrophe, women and girls are often the primary targets of growing violence, exploitation, and abuse. This is because in the midst of the chaos, stress, and brutality unleashed by emergencies, systems designed to keep us safe — like family structures, support…

When U.S. Army General Jonathan Wainwright discharged his troops following the end of World War II, he encouraged them to “start being a leader as soon as you put on your civilian clothes.” Seeking a sense of purpose and mission is a common desire for military veterans when they leave the service. It’s not a surprise that many have found their way to USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. — On the surface level, it’s easy to view the military and humanitarian domains as polar opposites. The stereotypical images of camo-clad warriors and peaceful altruists paint a picture of two groups destined to clash.

Torrential rains and glacial lake outbursts since mid-June have triggered devastating floods and landslides across Pakistan. This catastrophic event has now affected 33 million people, including nearly 1,400 lives lost. At its peak, flood waters submerged approximately one-third of the country, washed away crops, and destroyed or damaged more than…

Wherever natural disasters, violent conflicts, and other humanitarian crises tear societies apart and test the human spirit, aid workers are on the ground every hour of every day to save lives. Today, on World Humanitarian Day, USAID honors brave aid workers around the world as they serve people in need. —

One year ago, on August 15, 2021, the world watched in horror as the Government of Afghanistan collapsed after an extensive military advance by the Taliban. Since those chaotic first days, the Taliban takeover has led to economic and political instability and the deterioration of basic services across the country…

On August 14, 2021, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck southwestern Haiti, killing more than 2,200 people and leaving at least 600,000 in need of humanitarian assistance. On the one-year anniversary of the earthquake, USAID looks back on how the disaster response saved lives, supported communities, and showcased the resilience of…