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Latin America and the Caribbean - Disaster Risk Reduction Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year (FY) 2017

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OVERVIEW

• Countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region experience a range of natural hazards, including droughts, earthquakes, floods, forest fires, hurricanes, landslides, tsunamis, and volcanoes. El Niño and La Niña phenomena occur periodically, exacerbating the impacts of hydrometeorological events in the LAC region. Unplanned urban expansion, environmental and natural resource degradation, and land-use management challenges also increase populations’ vulnerability and exposure to natural hazards.

• USAID/OFDA supports DRR programs in LAC to build resilience and improve emergency preparedness, mitigation, and response capacity at the local, national, and regional levels. USAID/OFDA focuses on strategic, context-specific programs designed to meet particular risk reduction needs in each country, with capacity building a consistent theme across DRR activities.

• In FY 2017, USAID/OFDA provided approximately $34.9 million to support DRR initiatives throughout the LAC region. USAID/OFDA staff based in the regional office in Costa Rica and the field office in Haiti engaged directly with community members, national officials, and other stakeholders to prepare for, respond to, and lessen the effects of disasters.