Lessons from Significant Foreign Disaster Relief Operations Applied to AFRICOM

Abstract

The establishment of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) puts the forward military presence of the United States in close proximity to a region where the probability of conducting disaster relief operations is high Analysis of significant foreign disaster relief operations suggests critical lessons for the operational commander. These lessons relate to when a military force should be used in a disaster relief situation, how to use such a force, and how to coordinate efforts with governmental and non-governmental relief agencies. This paper will analyze four significant disaster relief operations the U.S. military has participated in since 1991. The current state of foreign disaster relief policy and doctrine will be analyzed. Conclusions will be drawn from across the case studies and applied to the current circumstances facing AFRICOM. Finally, recommendations will be made about how to efficiently conduct foreign disaster relief in AFRICOM's theater of operations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 23, 2008
Accession Number
ADA484403

Entities

People

  • Miguel R. Martinez

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Case Studies
  • Combatant Commanders
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of State
  • Disasters
  • Doctrine
  • Governments
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Interagency Coordination
  • International Organizations
  • Military Operations
  • National Security
  • Unified Combatant Commands
  • United States
  • United States Africa Command
  • United States European Command
  • United States Government

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.