Department of Defense
DIRECTIVE
NUMBER 5100.46
July 6, 2012
Incorporating Change 1, July 28, 2017
USD(P)
SUBJECT: Foreign Disaster Relief (FDR)
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This Directive reissues DoD Directive 5100.46 (Reference (a)) to update DoD
policy and responsibilities for FDR operations in accordance with sections 404 and 2561 of title
10, United States Code (U.S.C.) (Reference (b)) and Executive Order (E.O.) 12966
(Reference (c)).
2. APPLICABILITY. This Directive:
a. Applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the
Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other
organizational entities in the DoD (hereinafter referred to collectively as the “DoD
Components”).
b. Does not apply to DoD policy concerning foreign consequence management for chemical,
biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive incidents, which is governed by DoD
Instruction 2000.21 (Reference (d)).
3. DEFINITIONS. See Glossary.
4. POLICY. It is DoD policy that:
a. DoD shall respond to foreign disasters in support of the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) pursuant to E.O. 12163 and section 2292(b) of title 22, U.S.C.
(References (e) and (f)).
b. In accordance with Reference (c), DoD Components shall provide disaster assistance in
support of U.S. FDR efforts only:
