The Department of Defense has long been able to play a major role in international humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HA/DR) due to its unique capabilities, manpower, and forward-deployed resources. The Asia-Pacific region is of particular importance to the United States because it bears the brunt of more than half of the world's natural disasters and is home to numerous key U.S. allies. In an effort to improve the effectiveness of HA/DR operations in the future, this report analyzes recent operations in Burma, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Japan, and identifies lessons that have emerged in the areas of (1) interagency coordination, (2) communication with the affected country, (3) coordination with other state and non-state actors, (4) prospects for U.S. security cooperation and building partner capacity for HA/DR, and (5) prospects for the increased involvement of regional organizations in HA/DR. This report also identifies complementary capabilities and comparative advantages that exist around the region, presents options for leveraging these capabilities to deal with future disasters, and assesses various crisis management mechanisms involving allies and partners that can be applied to other contingencies.

"Prepared for the Office of the Secretary of Defense"--T.p.

Introduction. Study objectives -- DoD's role in HA/DR operations -- Analytical approach -- Organization of this report / Cyclone Nargis (Burma). Background -- U.S. DoD involvement and interagency coordination -- DoD coordination with the recipient country -- DoD coordination with international and regional actors -- Conclusions / Padang Earthquake, West Sumatra (Indonesia). Background -- U.S. DoD involvement and interagency coordination -- DoD coordination with the recipient country -- DoD coordination with international and regional actors -- Conclusions / 2010 monsoon floods (Pakistan). Background -- U.S. DoD involvement and interagency coordination -- DoD coordination with the recipient country -- DoD coordination with international and regional actors -- Conclusions / The Great East Japan Earthquake/Operation Tomodachi (Japan). Background -- U.S. DoD involvement and interagency coordination -- DoD coordination with the recipient country -- DoD coordination with international and regional actors -- Conclusions / Findings and recommendations. Improving DoD's efficiency as an HA/DR provider -- Enhancing interagency coordination -- Improving coordination with affected countries -- Working more effectively with the UN and NGOs -- Aligning security cooperation activities and regional HA/DR capabilities -- Building goodwill through HA/DR -- Conclusion / Appendix: tracking PACOM AOR militaries' capabilities for HA/DR.