In compliance with General Assembly resolution 46/182 the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), through its Disaster Response Branch (DRB) in Geneva, mobilizes and coordinates international disaster response and can be contacted on a 24-hour basis in case of emergency. It monitors field situations to identify natural disasters, environmental emergencies and industrial accidents, and is in close contact with UN Resident Coordinators throughout the world. The system also features pre-disaster preparedness and post-disaster follow-up activities, including training assessment teams, making evaluations and determining lessons learned, and situation reports, alerting and updating the world on evolving disaster situations.

Countries can address requests for information and/or international assistance in cases of natural disasters or environmental emergencies directly to DRB, or through the UN Resident Coordinator in the affected country. As the focal point for coordinating international response to an emergency, the relevant DRB regional desk immediately prepares and disseminates situation reports to emergency relief services of donor Governments, the UN system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, providing the international community with detailed information on the evolving disaster situation, including damage caused, actions taken, assistance needs and international aid being provided. On average, over 200 such reports are issued each year, in all about 600 addressees.

In case of a major disaster with substantial involvement of different UN agencies during the immediate relief phase, which is what happened in India, a UN inter-agency mission, such as the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination, may be sent to carry out a comprehensive multi-sectoral assessment of the effects of an emergency to ensure coordinated planning and the formulation of an overall UN response.

The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) is the main forum for consultation and decision-making between humanitarian agencies. IASC is chaired by the Emergency Relief Coordinator.

OCHA also assists in resource mobilization if the Government of the affected country asks, by launching an inter-agency appeal and provides the humanitarian community with support in policy development. On average, 27 such appeals are issued each year. As needed, OCHA provides cash grants and a "fast-tracking" service for donor contributions.

Between 1992 and 1998, OCHA launched, on behalf of its partner humanitarian organizations, 94 consolidated appeals seeking $17.9 billion in 27 countries. Overall, $12.5 billion was raised.

The victims of 44 natural disasters were assisted in 2000, and the international community provided over $373 million in aid (excluding contributions in kind and services).

Appeals for international assistance include specialized personnel and equipment needed for disaster relief activities, such as aircraft, helicopters, ships, nuclear/biological/chemical decontamination facilities, field hospitals and water purification units. The number of emergencies in which these assets were used have increased steadily since 1993. OCHA maintains a Central Register of Disaster Management Capacities, which are available for international assistance and it has also established standby arrangements with Governments and humanitarian organizations for access to field coordination support resources (such as office support, transport, telecommunications and coordination centre infrastructure). When large-scale emergencies call for such resources, OCHA can mobilize, deploy and manage them so that coordination centres and other services can be established.

Making a Big Difference During the launch of the 2001 Consolidated Interagency Appeals for $2 billion to support 35 million people — less than the world spends in military purposes in one day — Secretary-General Kofi Annan said "when humanitarian assistance is provided in a timely manner, it can make a big difference … yet while we have seen the value of well-funded, well-coordinated humanitarian action and while we see increased prosperity in many parts of the world, contributions to the appeals are falling well short of the agreed goals". Recent appeals include: $353 million to cover for one year the needs caused by lingering droughts for 13 million people in the Horn of Africa; about $12 million in assistance for Mongolia, where drought and more recently severe winter storms had seriously endangered thousands of people; Some $34 million to bridge immediate emergency needs, as well as long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation in El Salvador for six months following the 31 January earthquake; although the Indian Government as of the end of January 2001 had not requested international assistance, OCHA had released $150,000 from its emergency trust fund and worked with the Government to coordinate the deployment of international assistance teams in response to the 26 January earthquake.