▁OF DA ▁was ▁established ▁under ▁the ▁Foreign ▁Ass istance ▁Act ▁with ▁the ▁appointment ▁of ▁a ▁Foreign ▁Dis aster ▁Rel ief ▁Co ordin ator ▁within ▁USA ID . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 5 , ▁the ▁Foreign ▁Ass istance ▁Act ▁was ▁am ended ▁with ▁a ▁" not with standing " ▁clause ▁in ▁the ▁International ▁Development ▁and ▁Food ▁Ass istance ▁Act , ▁allowing ▁the ▁President ▁to ▁by pass ▁any ▁b ureau cr atic ▁procedures ▁that ▁might ▁h inder ▁a ▁tim ely ▁response . ▁The ▁" not with standing " ▁clause ▁gives ▁OF DA ▁the ▁exped ited ▁authority ▁to ▁make ▁gr ants ▁and ▁contract s ▁without ▁having ▁to ▁go ▁through ▁the ▁length y ▁proc ure ment ▁procedures ▁required ▁for ▁other ▁USA ID ▁offices . ▁In ▁addition , ▁the ▁clause ▁allows ▁OF DA ▁to ▁work ▁in ▁countries ▁where ▁other ▁U . S . ▁government ▁ag encies ▁are ▁not ▁present . ▁ ▁The ▁organization ▁is ▁mand ated ▁to ▁save ▁lives , ▁alle vi ate ▁human ▁suffering , ▁and ▁reduce ▁the ▁economic ▁and ▁social ▁impact ▁of ▁human itar ian ▁emer gen cies ▁world wide . ▁ ▁Dis aster ▁response ▁ ▁Each ▁year , ▁OF DA ▁respond s ▁to ▁do z ens ▁of ▁international ▁dis aster s , ▁including ▁rapid - ons et ▁events , ▁such ▁as ▁earth qu akes , ▁flo ods , ▁storm s , ▁t sun am is , ▁and ▁vol cano es ; ▁slow - ons et ▁emer gen cies , ▁such ▁as ▁prolong ed ▁dr ought ▁leading ▁to ▁food ▁in security ; ▁and ▁complex