Countries in the Southern Africa region face cyclical drought, floods, and cyclones, as well as food insecurity, disease outbreaks, and prolonged complex emergencies. These disasters present significant challenges to vulnerable populations, who often lack access to basic services and adequate resources to cope with crises. Environmental degradation and limited government capacity compound existing vulnerabilities, exacerbating the impact of disasters in this region. In FY 2011, as in previous years, USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) not only responded to urgent needs resulting from disasters, but also funded disaster risk reduction (DRR) programs to build the capacity of communities to prepare for and mitigate potential emergencies.