3.2. International humanitarian assistance organizations
Emergencies of a certain magnitude involve a great number of humanitarian actors—actors already present in the country and/or actors coming from abroad to provide assistance.
3.2.1 Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Under the United Nations Secretariat, OCHA is responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA mobilizes and coordinates effective and principled humanitarian action, in partnership with national and international actors and promotes preparedness and prevention. It also coordinates specialized teams that are sent when governments of countries affected by a disaster so request.
Continuation of 3.2.
3.2.2. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO)
PAHO/WHO has created Regional Response Teams (RRTs), comprised of specialists in health and disasters. The teams assist countries that are dealing with emergencies or disasters. The Team is responsible for carrying out a rapid assessment of needs, assisting in coordinating emergency response, and advising PAHO/WHO and its partners. The Team assists in the health sector’s response to an emergency, paving the way for installation of the health cluster, as prescribed by the United Nations Humanitarian Reform.