United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - UNOCHA

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is a United Nations (U.N.) body established in December 1991 by the General Assembly to strengthen the international response to complex emergencies and natural disasters.[1] It is the successor to the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator (UNDRO).

The Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA) was established shortly thereafter by the Secretary-General, but in 1998 was merged into OCHA, which became the U.N.'s main focal point on major disasters.[2] OCHA's mandate was subsequently broadened to include coordinating a humanitarian response, policy development and humanitarian advocacy. Its activities include organizing and monitoring humanitarian funding, advocacy, policy-making, and information exchange to facilitate rapid-response teams for emergency relief.[3]