The General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) established the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in December 1991 to improve the global response to complicated emergencies and natural disasters. It is the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator’s replacement (UNDRO).

The UNOCHA was created by resolution 46/182 of the General Assembly in December 1991.

It aims to strengthen the response of the United Nations system to natural disasters and complex emergencies by creating the Department of Humanitarian Affairs and replacing the office of the UN Disaster Relief Coordinator, which was already in existence in 1972. To accomplish its goals, UNOCHA uses the following mechanisms/vehicles:

• United Nations disaster assessment and coordination (UNDAC): Disaster management experts are nominated and supported by member nations, the OCHA, the UN Development Programme, and operational humanitarian agencies like WFP and UNICEF through the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC). Countries affected by catastrophes and the UN can use the UNDAC system to meet their demands for timely and reliable information during the early stages of a crisis, to coordinate incoming international help, and to respond to a sudden short-notice crisis. India’s government in 2001 became a member of UNDAC. The Government of India paid $50,000 to UNOCHA, which implements the UNDAC programs.
• International Search and Rescue advisory Group (INSARAG): Over 90 countries (Nov 2021) and disaster response organisations are part of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG). INSARG is a global organisation whose aim is to develop a framework for international earthquake response coordination and to establish standards for international urban search and rescue teams. After the earthquake in Armenia in 1988, the International Search and Rescue Agency (INSARAG) was established in 1991. In addition to being a member of INSARAG Asia Pacific Regional Group, India also participates in the meetings of the group at the regional and international levels. From 2005 to 2006, while serving as Chairman of INSARAG’s Asia-Pacific Regional Group, India hosted a meeting of its own and sponsored the UNDAC Refresher Course while hosting the gathering.

The UNOCHA promotes innovative approaches to humanitarian work among organisations. It is a method for organizations to recognise issues and address them while also modifying their business models to take advantage of new opportunities.