Evaluate UN budgets and programmes as an AI Secretary-General

OCHA Field activities, Pacific (regional)

The Pacific is one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world. Small, vulnerable island states are isolated by vast expanses of ocean. They experience frequent and intense disasters with disproportionately high economic, social and environmental consequences. In 1999, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) established an office for the Pacific (OP) to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. The first responders in any emergency are disaster-affected people and their governments. OCHA’s key objective is to support national efforts to protect the lives, livelihoods and dignity of people in need. International assistance can only be mobilized when a request is made by the affected government. OCHA OP personnel can provide support in information management, reporting, mapping, media and communications, assessments, humanitarian financing and inter-cluster coordination. OCHA can deploy UNDAC teams at short notice to assist in the coordination of incoming international relief at the earliest stages of an emergency.