‘Superstorm’ Hurricane Sandy began its path of devastation the week of October 29, 2012–-and severely affected portions of the Caribbean, then continued on to bring devastation to the Northeastern United States. Impacting 24 states in the Eastern third of the country, President Obama signed the state of emergency declaration in the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, [...]
Ibasho “A place where one feels at home.” Operation USA has focused its long-term recovery efforts following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated large portions of Japan on a community project in Ofunato, a coastal city located in Iwate Prefecture. Once a vibrant fishing community, Ofunato was badly impacted by the tsunami. Provisional counts [...]
The massive earthquake on January 12, 2010 brought unprecedented devastation to the island nation of Haiti. While the world’s attention focused on the extensive damage done in Port-au-Prince, a catastrophe of equal magnitude unfolded on Haiti’s southern coast in the city of Jacmel. As many as 70% of Jacmel’s homes were damaged or destroyed. Operation [...]
On March 11, 2011 a 9.0 earthquake struck Japan. The most powerful recorded earthquake in Japan’s history struck 250 miles north-east of Tokyo—and generated a 10-metre-high tsunami that swept away everything in its path, triggered a Pacific-wide tsunami alert and raised fears of a nuclear catastrophe from damaged power plants. The Japanese National Police Agency [...]
In the aftermath of both the 2004 Tsunami and decades of civil war, Operation USA is addressing the humanitarian crisis that continues in Sri Lanka.
Operation USA is currently partnering with local Haitian NGO L’Athletique d’Haiti to construct a cafeteria to meet the increased demand created by recent disasters.
East Africa is currently experiencing the worst drought to hit the region in 60 years. The UN has officially declared famine in parts of southern Somalia—regions of Lower Shabelle and southern Bakool. It is predicted that the entire south of Somalia will face famine within the next two months. Operation USA is working to assess [...]
2011 has been an exceptionally destructive and deadly year for tornadoes–the deadliest year for tornadoes in the United States since 1936. Worldwide, at least 560 people perished due to tornadoes—546 of those in the United States, due in large part to several extremely large tornado outbreaks in April and late May. Operation USA has worked [...]
For over 29 years, Operation USA has provided supplies, equipment and medicines—free of charge—to community clinics and health centers throughout California.
Summer 2010. Unusually heavy monsoon rains hit Pakistan—and bring the country its worst floods in recorded history. 20 million people were impacted—more than a tenth of the population. Homes, roads, bridges, crops and livestock were washed away. The flood ploughed a swathe of destruction from northern Pakistan to the southern province of Sindh. The floods [...]
On February 27, a massive 8.8 earthquake—and ensuing tsunami—hit Chile. Although the epicenter was out at sea, 150 KM from the town of Concepcion, the strong shocks were felt throughout the entire country and many areas of the Southern Cone. The most affected areas are Valparaiso, Santiago, O’Higgins, Maule, Biobio and La Araucania, where over [...]
The Awesome Girls Program offers afterschool programming for girls, providing safety, shelter and nurturing in post-Katrina New Orleans.
In 1994, Rwanda experienced a genocide in which approximately one million Rwandans were killed. Through the establishment of the Kigali Public Library–Rwanda’s first public library–it is the hope that the tools used for destruction will be replaced with tools of knowledge. The library–a sanctuary for knowledge and a forum for the free exchange of ideas [...]
Through the Children’s Bureau of New Orleans, this program provides specialized programs for children and families in the greater New Orleans area, with an emphasis on mental health, child welfare and advocacy.
In the 10 years since Hurricane Mitch devastated the region, Operation USA has made a long-term commitment to the village of Santa Rosa, Nicaragua.
St. Damien is the only free pediatric hospital in Haiti. Run by Father Rick Frechette, an American doctor and community organizer who’d been working in the slums of Port-au-Prince for over two decades, he and his small team have also built an orphanage, medical clinics, alongside St. Luke’s, a network of neighborhood schools. OpUSA has [...]
The morning of October 8, 2005, a 7.6 earthquake hit Pakistan—leaving more than 80,000 dead, over 100,000 injured and 3.5 million homeless in northern Pakistan and Kashmir, the region divided between India and Pakistan. Operation USA responded to the disaster rapidly with an airlift of medical supplies. Additional support was provided to rebuild homes, a [...]
Operation USA responds to May, 2008 earthquake in Sichuan province, China with the construction of a school, built in conjunction with Honeywell Hometown Solutions.
Operation USA continues post-hurricane projects in Louisiana and Mississippi–with an emphasis on community health clinics. Although there has been significant progress in much of the region, many residents are still struggling to reconstruct their lives.
In 2008, named the
“#1 Exclusively Privately Funded Charity”
by Charity Navigator.
Co-recipient of the
1997 Nobel Peace Prize as part of “The International Campaign to Ban Landmines”