United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Role of international organizations 

About: 

• OCHA is a United Nations (U.N.) body 
• It was established in 1991 to strengthen the international response to complex emergencies and natural disasters  
• It is the successor to the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator (UNDRO) 
• OCHA’s mandate was subsequently broadened to include coordinating humanitarian response, policy development and humanitarian advocacy 
• OCHA organized the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey.  
• It is a sitting observer in the United Nations Development Group. 
• The headquarters is based in two locations (New York and Geneva)