Acronyms
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A - B - C - D - E- F - G - H - I - J - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - Y - Z
Acronyms and terms of military origin are marked with an asterisk*
|
Acronyms | |
A | |
| AA | Agency Agreements |
| AA | Action Aid (UK) |
| AAH | Aktion Afrika Hilfe (german NGO) |
| AC | Aircraft Commander |
| Acceptable Risk | Degree of human and material loss that is perceived by the community of relevant authorities as tolerable in actions to minimise disaster risk. |
| ACF | Action Contre la Faim (french NGO) - Action Against Hunger |
| ACL | Accounts Recoverable Locally |
| ACMI | Costs of Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance |
| ACP | African, Caribbean and Pacific |
| ADB | African Development Bank |
| ADR | Regulations for international movements of hazardous goods by road |
| ADRA | Adventist Development and Relief Agency |
| Affected Country | Term used to define a country stricken by a disaster |
| Affected Population | People requiring immediate emergency assistance from outside sources as a result of a disaster situation or event. |
| Afloat | Cargo on High Seas |
| AI | Amnesty International |
| AIMS | Afghanistan Information Management Service |
| AIP | Aeronautical Information Publication |
| ALITE | Augmented Logistics Intervention Team for Emergencies (WFP) |
| AO* | Area of Operations |
| AOR* | Area Of Responsibilities |
| AOS* | Area Of Separation |
| APC* | Armoured Personnel Carrier |
| ARC | American Red Cross |
| ARC | American Refugee Committee |
| ASG | Assistant Secretary General |
| ASN | Advanced Shipping Notification |
| Assessment | Logistics Infrastructure Assessment: The process of evaluating logistics infrastructure such as airfields, bridges, ports, railways and warehouses |
| Damage Assessment: The process of evaluating the damages and losses caused by a disaster | |
| Logistics Capability Assessment: WFP`s inventory on logistics capabilities | |
| Needs Assessment: The process of evaluating the needs of the affected population as a result of the disaster | |
| Situation Assessment: The process of evaluating the situation caused by a disaster, such as the number killed, injured and affected | |
| ASAP* | As Soon As Possible |
| Assisting Country | Term that more specifically defines a country providing aid to a disaster-stricken country (affected country). Assisting countries may or may not be a donor country. |
| ATA | Actual Time of Arrival |
| ATA | Admission Temporaire (Temporary Admission)- Custom warehousing term. |
| ATC | Air Traffic Control |
| ATD | Actual Time of Departure |
| At-Risk Populations | A group that may suffer the effects of drought, conflict, severe food shortages, or other phenomena resulting in humanitarian hardship. Includes but is not limited to vulnerable groups (see definition). |
| ATS | Air Traffic Services |
| ATU | Anti-Terrorists Unit |
| AVL | Automatic Vehicle Location (location of vehicles using satellite or ground-based tracking) |
| AWB | Air WayBill |
B | |
| Bailey Bridge | Transportable (in pieces) temporary bridge |
| Basic Foods | Commodities which constitute the main bulk of distributed general rations and provide the greatest part of the requirements of the beneficiaries in terms of energy, protein and fat. They can normally be supplied by WFP and the international donor community and include cereals, edible oil or fat, protein-rich foods and salt. |
| BDE * | Brigade, Army or Marine Corps, 2,000 to 3,000 personnel. |
| Biological Disaster | Disaster caused by the exposure of living organisms to germs and toxic circumstances. |
| BN * | Battalion, Army or Marine corps, 600 to 800 personnel. |
| Blended Food | Food such as Wheat-Soya blend, Corn-Soya blend and Soy-Fortified Bulgur are fortified / processed commodities used for targeted, vulnerable groups in an at-risk population |
| Block Time | Time between engine start-up before flight and aircraft stop after landing |
C | |
| CA | Civil Affairs (unit to assist civil governments and their citizens in disasters, USA) |
| CAA | Civil Aviation Authority (or Authorities) |
| CAO | Chief Administrative Officer (DPKO) |
| CAP | Consolidated Appeal |
| CARE | Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (NGO) |
| Cargo | Abbreviations and Terms: - Air Waybill (AWB): A document serving as a guide to a carrier's staff in handling, dispatching, and delivering the consignment. It is a non-negotiable document. - Cargo Manifest: Document that provides full information about all cargo on board of the aircraft. It contains the number of the corresponding Airway Bill, weight and number of parcels, description of the contents and nature of the parcels - Bill of Lading: A receipt for goods, contract for their carriage, and documentary evidence of title to goods. As such it is a Bill of Exchange, a negotiable document of title usually issued in sets of three originals and several copies. - C and F: Cost and Freight. The shipper pays for freight to the named port of destination. - CIF: Cost, insurance, and freight. - COD: Cash on delivery. - Dead Weight (DWT): A vessel's dead weight in the number of tons (2,240 pounds) required to sink the vessel in the water to its load line. DWT includes cargo, bunkers, and stores. DWT cargo capacity is the weight available for cargo after all other allowances have been made. - FAS: Free Alongside Ship. Price of goods dockside at port of discharge. - FOB: Free on Board. The price of goods covers transportation to the port of shipment, loading, and stowage, not transportation costs to final destination. - Long Ton: A measure of weight equivalent to 20 hundredweight (cwt.) of 112 lb. each = 2,240 lb. = 1016 kilos. - MT: Metric Ton. MT = 1,000 kilos = 2,205 lb. - Short Ton: 2,000 lb. = 907.2 kilos Committee of Commodities, Transport and Insurance (WFP) |
| CAS | Casualty |
| CBD | Cash Before Delivery |
| CCA | Common Country Assessment |
| CCTI | Committee of Commodities, Transport and Insurance (WFP) |
| Cdr * | Commander |
| CENTCOM | United States Central Command |
| CFACC | Combined Force Air Component Commander |
| CFLCC | Coalition Forces Land Component Command |
| CFR | Cost & Freight. International Commerce Term --> |
| CH |
Curran Hospital |
| CHAL | Christian Health Association Liberia |
| CHC | Catholic Health Centre |
| CHE | Complex Humanitarian Emergency |
| CHLC* | Coalition Humanitarian Liaison Centre (in the region of Afghanistan) |
| CIDA | Canadian International Development Agency . (Canadian government's foreign assistance and development agency). |
| CIF | Cost, Insurance and Freight (price including costs of goods, insurance and transport) |
| CIMIC* | Civil-Military Cooperation (NATO term analogous to CMCoord in UN terminology and CMO in US military terminology) |
| CINC* | Commander in Chief |
| CISS | Chief Integrated Support Services (DPKO) |
| Civil Defence | The system of measures, usually run by a governmental agency, to protect the civilian population in wartime, to respond to disasters, and to prevent and mitigate the consequences of major emergencies in peacetime |
| CIF | Cost, Insurance & Freight. International Commerce Term --> |
| CIP | Carriage and Insurance Paid To. International Commerce Term --> |
| CLP | Consolidation and Loading Point |
| CJCMOTF* | Coalition Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force (Afghanistan Crisis, located in Tampa in the Coalition Partners' Headquarter) |
| CJTF* | Commander Joint Task Force or Combined Joint Task Force |
| CM | Chief of Mission (refers to highest-ranking official in a country`s embassy) |
| CMCoord | Civil and Military Coordination UN acronym "The essential dialogue and interaction between civilian and military actors in humanitarian emergencies that is necessary to protect and promote humanitarian principles, avoid competition, minimize inconsistency, |
| CMCS | Civil-Military Coordination Section (CMCS). Previously: MCDU - Military and Civil Defence Unit (OCHA) |
| CMG | Crisis Management Group (Afghanistan) |
| CMO* | Civil Military Operations |
| CMOC* | (Civil Military Operations Centre-USA). A centre established by a (USA) JTF commander to carry out decisions. |
| CMR | Cargo Movement Request (form) |
| CO* | Commanding Officer |
| Cold Chain | The refrigerated transportation system for vaccines from the manufacturer to the individual |
| Complementary Foods Food | Items which are required in addition to and in smaller quantities than basic foods, in order to provide additional nutrients and increase palatability, and for cultural reasons. |
| CONOPS* | Concept Of Operations |
| COE | Contingent Owned Equipment (DPKO) |
| Contribution in kind | Non-cash assistance in materials or services offered or provided in case of disaster. |
| CONUS* | Continental United States |
| CP* | Command Post |
| CPA | Coalition Provisional Authority |
| CPT | Carriage Paid To. International Commerce Term --> |
| CRO* | Crisis Response Operation |
| CRS | Catholic Relief Services |
| CSB | Corn-Soya Blend. A fortified cereal blend used for targeted vulnerables in an at-risk population |
| CTF* | Combined Task Force. Military force made up of two or more allied nations. May also be called a Coalition Task Force. |
| CTS | Commodity Tracking System |
| CTS | Chief Technical Services (DPKO) |
| CWS | Church World Services |
| Cyclone | Name given to severe tropical storms in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean with wind speeds in excess of 120 km/hr. |
D | |
| DAF | Delivered at Frontier. International Commerce Term --> |
| DCA | Director of Civil Aviation |
| Damage Classification | Severe damage Precludes further use of the structure facility or object for its intended purpose. Moderate damage Damage or degree of damage to principal members, which precludes effective use of the structure, facility or object for its intended purpose, unless major repairs are made short of complete reconstruction. Light damage Visible damage not severe enough to preclude use of the installation for its intended purpose. |
| DART | Disaster Assistance Response Team. Name for OFDA's field operational response capability |
| DAST | Disaster Area Survey Team. A group deployed into an area after a disaster to ascertain the extent of damage to population and property and to recommend appropriate responses. |
| DDP | Delivered Duty Paid. International Commerce Term --> |
| DDU | Delivered Duty Unpaid. International Commerce Term --> |
| DES | Delivered Ex-Ship. International Commerce Term --> |
| DEQ | Delivered Ex-Quay. International Commerce Term --> |
| DFID | Department for International Development. British government foreign assistance and development Agency. |
| DFMS | Deep Field Messaging System |
| DO | Director of Operations |
| DOA | Dead On Arrival |
| DOD | Department Of Defence (USA) |
| DP | Displaced Person. An individual temporarily uprooted from his or her home who is expected to eventually return. Internally displaced persons have relocated within their country, while externally displaced persons have crossed an international border |
| Donor Country | Country that provides aid to a developing country. |
| DPA | Department of Political Affairs |
| DPKO | Department of Peace Keeping Operations (UN) |
| DPO | Documentary Proof of Origin. |
| DRA | Deployment Requirements Assessment (UNJLC) |
| DRC | Danish Refugee Council |
| DSA | Daily Subsistence Allowance |
| DSC | Direct Support Costs |
| DSM | Dry Skimmed Milk. |
| DTP | Diphteria-Tetanus-Pertussis (Immunisation for small children against these diseases) |
| DUP | Duty Unpaid |
| DWM | Dry Whole Milk |
| DWT | Dead Weight Tonnage (ship`s cargo capacity) |
E | |
| EC | European Commission. The Commission of the EU. |
| ECHO |
European Community Humanitaria Office |
| ECHA | Executive Committee Humanitarian Affairs |
| EDP | Extended Delivery Point |
| EFT | Electronic Funds Transfer |
| ELT | Emergency Locator Transmitter (aircraft equipment) |
| ELRA | European Logistics Relief Agency |
| EMERCOM | Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters, Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence |
| EMOP | Emergency Operation |
| EOC | Emergency Operations Centre |
| EOD | Explosive Ordnance Disposal |
| EPI | Expanded Program for Immunisation |
| ERC | Emergency Relief Coordinator (OCHA) |
| EASA | European Aviation Safety Agency |
| ETA | Estimated Time of Arrival |
| ETD | Estimated Time of Departure |
| ETE | Estimated Time Enroute |
| EU | European Union. European nations pledged to unite into a federation with a single currency, central bank, and a common defence and foreign policy. Headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium. |
| Expat | Expatriate. An individual residing in a country other than her/his own. |
| EXW | ExWorks. Under EXW, the seller minimizes his risk by making the goods available at his factory or place of business. See INCOTERMS for more details. |
F | |
| FAK | Flyaway Kit |
| FAS | Free Alongside Ship. International Commerce Term --> |
| FAO | Food and Agricultural Organisation |
| FALD | Field Administration and Logistics Division (DPKO) |
| FB | Freight Bill |
| FCA | Free Carrier. International Commerce Term --> |
| FCL | Full Container Loaded |
| FCSS | Field Coordination Support Section (OCHA) |
| FEMA | (Federal Emergency Management Agency): US agency responsible for co-ordinating federally declared disasters in the United States and its territories. |
| FFI | Freight Forwarder Instructions (FIATA-form delivered by customer) |
| FFW | Food For Work (WFP) |
| FHA | Foreign Humanitarian Assistance. Programs or operations conducted to relieve or reduce the results of natural or manmade disasters or other endemic conditions that might present a serious threat to life or that can result in great damage to or loss of property. |
| FIATA | International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, derived from the French name "Fédération Internationale des Associations de Transitaires et Assimilés". It is the world body of freight forwarders represents more than 35,000 forwarders in more than 130 countries. |
| FITTEST | Fast Information Technology & Telecommunications Emergency Support Team (WFP) |
| FLT | Fork Lift Truck |
| Fly | Term used to describe weather covers for a tent or shelter cover set up to keep individuals sheltered from the elements. |
| FMC | Fully Mission Capable |
| FOB | Free On Board. International Commerce Term --> |
| FOC | Free Of Charge |
| FOM | Field Operations Manual (UNJLC) |
| Food |
Food Basket: The particular selection of food
commodities that are handled by the assistance operation and included
in the rations distributed to the target beneficiaries. Food Pipeline: Term used to describe the various
location points and the amount of food going to an affected population.
Locations include the port of origin, the ship on the high seas, the
port of entry, and the distribution system in the affected country. |
| FSCO | Field Security Coordination Officer |
| FSO | Field Security Office |
G | |
| GATT | Global Agreement on Tariffs and Trades |
| GFA | Global Freight Agreement |
| GIS | Geographic Information Systems |
| GMT | Greenwich Mean Time. Time synchronised worldwide to the time at the zero meridian of longitude which passes through Greenwich. Also known as Co-ordinated Universal Time (UCT). Can also be referred to as Zulu time. |
| GPS | Global Positioning System (satellite navigation system) |
| Grant | The transfer by a nation or organisation of money to various PVO/NGO/IOs and UN relief agencies to perform predefined relief activities. |
| GST | Governorate Support Team |
| GTZ | Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit = German Technical Assistance Agency (german government`s foreign assistance & development agency) |
H | |
| HA | Humanitarian Assistance: the aid to an affected population that seeks, as its primary purpose, to save lives and alleviate suffering of a crisis-affected population. Humanitarian Assistance must be provided in accordance with the basic humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality and neutrality. |
| HACC | Humanitarian Assistance Co-ordination Centre |
| HACC-B | Humanitarian Assistance Co-ordination Centre - Baghdad |
| HC | Humanitarian Coordinator |
| HAS | Humanitarian Air Service |
| HAST* | Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team. Deployed by a CINC to assess existing conditions and need for follow up forces. |
| Hazard | An external risk factor, represented by the potential for a natural or human-caused event to occur in a specific location, with a given intensity and duration. |
| HDR | Humanitarian Daily Ration. US DOD ration designed to be acceptable to all ethnic and religious groups. Each HDR has approximately 2,000 calories. |
| HF | High Frequency Radios. Radio communication system that does not rely on line of sight. |
| HI | Handicap International |
| HIC | Humanitarian Information Center |
| HICFA | Humanitarian Information Center For Afghanistan |
| HLZ | Helicopter Landing Zone |
| HOC* | Humanitarian Operations Centre (established by Military Authorities) |
| HQ | Headquarters |
| HRO* | Humanitarian Relief Operations. . Also referred to as HUMRO. |
| HUMINT* | Human Intelligence. A category of intelligence derived from information collected and provided by human sources. |
| Hurricane | Name given to severe tropical storms in the eastern Pacific and western Atlantic with wind speeds in excess of 120 km/hr. |
I | |
| IAC | Iraqi Assistance Center |
| IAC | Iraq Action Coalition |
| IASC | Inter-Agency Standing Committee |
| IASC/WG | Inter-Agency Standing Committee Working Group |
| IATA | International Air Transport Association. Organization of airlines registered in countries which are members of the ICAO. |
| IBRD | International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. |
| IC | International Community |
| ICAO | International Civil Aviation Organisation |
| ICC | International Criminal Court |
| ICDO | International Civil Defence Organisation |
| ICRC | International Committee of the Red Cross |
| ICMC | International Catholic Migration Commission |
| ICT | Information Communication Technology |
| ICVA | International Council of Voluntary Agencies |
| IDP | Internally Displaced Person (see also DP, Displaced Person) |
| IFESH | International Foundation for Education and Self Help |
| IFR | Instrument Flight Rules |
| IFR Package | Navigation and Radio Equipment for IFR Flights |
| IFRC | International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
| IGO | Intergovernmental Organisation |
| IIRO | International Islamic Relief Organisation |
| ILI | International Learning Institute |
| ILO | International Labour Organization |
| ILS | Instrument Landing System |
| IIRO | International Islamic Relief Organisations |
| IMC | International Medical Corps |
| IMF | International Monetary Fund |
| IMO | International Maritime Organisation |
| IMTF | Integrated Management Task Force |
| INCOTERMS | International Commerce Terms. A series of international sales terms that is widely used throughout the world, which are contain in every commercial contract. |
| INSARAG | International Search and Rescue Advisory Group |
| IO | International Organisation. Acronym for organisations such as ICRC, IFRC, and IOM that are international in their scope. |
| IOM | International Organisation for Migration |
| IP | Implementing Partner |
| IRC | International Rescue Committee |
| IRIN | Integrated Regional Information Networks. Integrated Regional Information Networks. Provides reports on 46 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and eight countries in Central Asia |
| ISAF | International Security Assistance Force (Afghanistan) |
| ISDN | Integrated Services Digital Network |
| ISP | Institutional Strategy Paper (DFID Grant to WFP) |
| ISS | Integrated Support Services (DPKO) |
| IT | Information Technology |
| ITC | International Trade Centre |
| ITSH | Inland / Internal Transport, Storage and Handling (costs associated with the internal transport, storage and handling of relief commodities from the seaport of entry to the distribution point) |
| ITT | Invitation To Tender |
| ITU | International Telecommunication Unit |
J | |
| JAA | Joint Aviation Authority. Group of national civil aviation regulatory agencies in Europe co-operate in developing and implementing common safety standards and procedures |
| JCMOTF | Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force |
| JFC | Joint Force Commander |
| JICA | Japan International Cooperation Agency. Japanese government's foreign assistance and development agency. |
| JIT | Just In Time (logistics delivery principle) |
| JLOC | Joint Logistics Operations Centre (DPKO) |
| JMC* | Joint Movement Centre (coordinates employment of all means of transportation supporting CJTF`s concept of the operation; may also be referred to as JMCC (Joint Movement Control Centre, DPKO) |
| JOA * | Joint Operations Area. |
| JOC | Joint Operations Centre (DPKO) |
| JTF* | Joint Task Force (a defence force made up of two or more military services and used in an operation) |
L | |
| LA | Local Authority (Letter of Agreement that is less formal than a MOU or Contract) |
| LAC | Liberian Agricultural Company |
| LAT | Logistics Assessment Team |
| LCA | Logistics Capacity Assessment (WFP) |
| LCHR | Lawyers Committee for Human Rights |
| LEMA | Local Emergency Management Authority |
| LFD | Lightweight Food Delivery |
| LIRS | Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service |
| LO (or LNO) | Liaison Officer |
| LOC* | Line Of Communication. |
| LOC | Logistics Operations Centre. (DPKO) |
| LOGCAP * | Logistics Civilian Augmentation Program |
| LOI | Letter Of Indemnity |
| LMS | Logistics Management System |
| LRCS | League of Red Cross Societies |
| LSA | Logistics Support Analysis |
| LSP | Logistics Service Provider |
| LSS | Logistics Support System |
| LTSH | Landside Transport Storage and Handling |
| LWF | Lutheran World Federation |
M | |
| MCDA | Military and Civil Defence Assets |
| MCDU | See CMCS. |
| MCH | (Mother-Child Health)Refers to programs that are targeted at improving the health of mothers and children. |
| MDM | Medecins Du Monde |
|
Military |
S/G/J 1: Administration |
| S/G/J 2: Intelligence | |
| S/G/J 3: Operations | |
| S/G/J 4: Logistics | |
| S/G 5: Civil Affairs | |
| J 5: Plans and Policies | |
| S/G/J 6: Communication | |
| MIS | Management Information System |
| MMC | Movement Monitoring Cell (UNJLC) |
| MNF* | Multi-National Force |
| MOA | Memorandum Of Agreement |
| MODEL | Movement for Democracy in Liberia |
| MOU | (Memorandum of Understanding) A common form of agreement that is less formal than a contract. |
| MOVCON | United Nations Movement Control Unit |
| MPC | Movement Planning Cell (UNJLC) |
| MPDL | Movimiento or la Paz el Desarme y la Libertad |
| MPG | Miles per Gallon |
| MPH | Miles per Hour |
| MPT | Manpower, Personnel and Training |
| MPV | Multi-Purpose Vehicle |
| MRE* | Meal Ready-to-Eat (complete individual combat mael in pouch; usually heated in boiling water) |
| MRU | Mono River Union |
| MSF | Medecins Sans Frontieres. . Doctors without Borders. |
| MT | Metric Tonnes(s) |
| MTG | Metric Tonne Gross |
| MTN | Metric Tonne Net |
N | |
| NAC | North Atlantic Council . (The Supreme Council of NATO). |
| NATO* | North Atlantic Traety Organisation |
| NBC* | Nuclear, Biological and Chemical |
| NCCI | NGO Coordination Center in Iraq |
| NDB | Non-Directional Beacon |
| NEO* | Non-combatant Evacuation Operations |
| NFI | Non Food Item |
| NGO | Non Governmental Organisation |
| NIMA | National Imagery and Mapping Agency |
| NLC | National Logistics Cell |
| NMC | Not Mission Capable (a system that does not work) |
| NCCI | NGO Coordination Center in Iraq |
| NOTAM | Notice to Airmen (Special aeronautical information published on an ad hoc basis) |
| NPF | National Patriotic Front |
| NRC | Norwegian Refugee Council |
O | |
| OAS | Organisation of American States (Inter-governmental organisation of all North, Central and South American and Caribbean countries except Cuba and Canada) |
| OAU | Organisation of African Unity. The OAU headquarters is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. |
| OCHA | Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
| OCPA | OCPA = Office of Coalition Provisional Authority ; previously CPA (= Coalition Provisional Authority), now together with ORHA (= Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance) renamed into OCPA |
| OECD | Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development |
| OEF | Operation Enduring Freedom (to conduct the global war on terrorism; CENTCOM, Tampa) |
| OFDA | Office of Forein Disaster Assistance (USAID`s Bureau for Humanitarian Response) |
| OFFP | Oil For Food Programme |
| OHA | Organisation for Humanitarian Assistance |
| OHCHR | Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights |
| OIF | Operation Iraqi Freedom (to conduct operations against Iraq; CENTCOM, Tampa) |
| OIP | Office of the Iraq Programme |
| OLS | Operation Lifeline Sudan |
| OOS | Out of Stock |
| OPCOM* | Operational Command |
| OPCON* | Operational Control |
| OPCW | United Nations Office for Prevention of Chemical Weapons |
| OPORD* | Operations Order |
| OPLAN* | Operations Plan |
| OPS* | Operations |
| OPSEC* | Operations Security |
| Org* | Organisation |
| OSCE | Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe |
| OSOCC | On-Site Operations Co-ordination Centre (OCHA) |
| OTF | Operational Task Force |
| OXFAM | Oxford Committee for Famine Relief |
P | |
| PAHO | Pan-American Health Organisation (is part of WHO) |
| PAM | Programme Alimentaire Mondial (french acronym for WFP) |
| PAX* | Passenger |
| PDA | Personal Digital Assistant (Palmtop Computer) |
| PI | Pipeline Information (form) |
| PIC | Pilot in Command (the aircraft commander or AC) |
| PH | Phebe Hospital |
| PHS | Packaging, Handling and Storing |
| PIC | Pilot in Command (the aircraft commander or AC). |
| PO* | Purchase Order |
| POC | Point Of Contact |
| POL* | Petrol, Oil and Lubricants |
| POW | Prisoner Of War |
| PSF | Pharmaciens Sans Frontieres |
| PSO | Peace Support Operations |
| PSI | Pounds per Square Inch (measurement of pressure i.e. tyres) |
| Pulses | Beans, lentils, and peas. |
| PVO | (Private Voluntary Organisation): Private non-profit humanitarian assistance organisations, registered with USAID, that are involved in development and relief activities. PVO is the equivalent term of NGO, which is normally used by non-U.S. organisations. |
Q | |
| Qty* | Quantity |
| Qual* | Qualitity |
R | |
| RADAR* | Radiological Detection And Ranging |
| RAMCC | Regional Air Movement Co-ordination Centre |
| Rat * | Rations |
| Ration | The particular amount of food provided by an assistance programme for beneficiaries in a specified target group to meet defined nutritional objectives. The "daily ration" is the amount provided per person per day. The "distribution ration" is the quantity provided to each individual or household at each distribution. |
| RCB | Regional Co-ordination Bureau |
| RCO | Regional Co-ordination Office |
| RDC | Regional Distribution Centre |
| RDR | Retail Delivery Record (paper-based delivery manifest) |
| Recce * | Reconnaissance |
| Reconstruction | Medium- and long-term repair of physical, social, and economic damage to a condition or level of development equal to or better than before the disaster. |
| Ref * | Reference |
| Refugee | a person who is outside of his or her country of origin and who, because of a well-founded fear of persecution, is unable to return to the country or to prevail upon that country for protection |
| Rehabilitation | Short-term recovery of basic services and initiation of repair of physical, social and economic damages |
| Rep | Representative |
| Reproductive Health (RH) |
RH activities include safe motherhood; prevention and management of
the consequences of sexual and gender-based violence; prevention and
care of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS;
family planning; management of other reproductive health concerns;
meeting the special needs of adolescents; and reproductive health
surveillance and monitoring |
| Req * | Request |
| Reqt * | Requirement |
| Response | Actions carried out in the face of an adverse event aimed at saving lives, alleviating suffering, and reducing economic losses. |
| RFA | Request For Assistance (formal procedure for requesting use of Military or Civil Defence Assets to support humanitarian operations) |
| RFDC | Radio Frequency Data Communications (real-time inventory control system) |
| RFI | Request For Information (procedure for asking information to the Military for supporting humanitarian operations) |
| RFID | Radio Frequency Information Data (electronic tags replacing conventional bar-codes) |
| RFO | Request for Offer (term used in commercial air charter) |
| RFP | Request for Proposal |
| RFQ | Request for Offer (term used in commercial air charter) |
| RHC | Regional Humanitarian Co-ordinator |
| Risk | Probability of exceeding a specific value of social, environmental, and economic damages, in a given place and during a specific exposure time. |
| RIO | Restore Iraqi Oil : Task Force of the U.S. Army Corps Engineers |
| ROE | Rules Of Engagement (defines when and how force may be used) |
| RORO | Roll-On-Roll-Off (refers to a type of transport ship that rolls equipment and supplies up into one end of the ship and rolls it off the other end at the port of delivery) |
| RPM | Revolutions per Minute. Measure of the speed of an engine. |
| RRT | Rapid Response Team |
| RSV | Radio Station Veritas |
| RTA | Road Traffic Accident |
| RUF | Revolutionary Unit Front |
| RV* | Rendez-Vous |
S | |
| SAD | Single Administrative Document (usually Customs Form C88 - frontier declaration) |
| SAR | Search and Rescue (component of disaster relief function, responsible for searching for and rescuing victims) |
| SATCOM System | Satellite Communications System (refers to International Maritime Satellite (= INMARSAT) communications system, which can provide almost worldwide communications for voice, data, and fax using a system of geostationary satellites) |
| SCF | Save the Children Fund |
| SCHR | Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response |
| SDAH | Seventh Day Adventist Hospital |
| SDC | Swiss Development & Co-operation Agency |
| SDT | Shippers Declaration of Transport of dangerous goods (FIATA Form) |
| Sect* | Section |
| Seeds and Tools | Distribution of seeds and tools is a relief intervention designed to give affected populations an opportunity to become more self-sufficient in food production. |
| Selective Feeding | A collective term used for all feeding and food distribution programs in which food is provided to specifically selected beneficiaries. It typically includes both supplementary and therapeutic feeding. |
| SF* | Special Forces |
| SFP | Supplementary Feeding Programme. Feeding programme offering extra calories for vulnerable populations of displaced persons. |
| SHA | Swiss Humanitarian Aid (successor to Swiss Disaster Relief |
| SHAPE* | Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (NATO military HQ located in Mons (Casteau), Belgium) |
| Sitrep | A situation report on the current disaster situation and on the current response activities. Completed as required. |
| SMO* | Senior Military Officer (DPKO) |
| SO | Special Operation (appeal for funding of a special operation) |
| SOD | Special Operation Division |
| SOF * | Special Operations Forces. |
| SOFA* | Status of Forces Agreement |
| SOP* | Standing Operating Procedures or Standard Operating Procedures |
| SPIC | Simplified Procedure for Import Clearance |
| SPINS | Special Instructions (for Aircrew) |
| SPLM/A | Sudan People's Liberation Movement/ Army |
| SRC | Swedish Relief Council |
| SRSA | Swedish Rescue Service Agency |
| SRSG | Special Representative of the Secretary General |
| STDs | Sexually Transmitted Diseases |
| SUMA | WHO`s Humanitarian Supply Management System |
| Sup * | Supplement |
| Svc * | Service |
| Svy * | Survey |
| SWD | South West Division (of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) |
| Swiss Rescue | Rapid Response Team for urban SAR |
T | |
| TA | Technical Agreement |
| TA | Travel Authorisation |
| TACOM * | Tactical Command. |
| TACON * | Tactical Control. |
| TCNs | Trans-Country Nationals |
| TF | Task Force |
| TDY | Temporary Duty |
| TFP | Therapeutic Feeding Program (intensive feeding program offering total calories for severely malnourished infants and small children in a health care setting) |
| Theatre* | Region of the world for which a CINC has responsibility for military operations. |
| THW | Technisches Hilfswerk : German Federal Agency for Technical Relief |
| TMS | Transport Management System |
| Tropical Storms | Tropical cyclonic systems with wind speeds between 64 km/h and 119 km/h. If the wind speed is <64 km/h, the system is referred to as a tropical depression. |
| Tsunami | Progression of large sea waves capable of propagating for thousands of kilometres. They are caused by the sudden displacement of massive volumes of water by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. |
| TW | Tare Weight. Weight of truck or container without cargo |
| Typhoon | Name given to severe tropical storms in the western Pacific with wind speeds in excess of 120 km/hr. |
U | |
| UGC | Users Group Committee |
| UHF | Ultra High Frequency Radio. Radio systems that are dependent on line of sight or repeaters. |
| UNAMSIL | United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone |
| UNCHS | United Nations Center for Human Settlement (Habitat) |
| UNCT | United Nations Country Team |
| UNCTAD | United Nations Conference and Trade Development |
| UNDAC Team | United Nations Disaster Assessment and Co-ordination Team (OCHA) |
| UNDAF | Unted Nations Assistance Framework |
| UNDCP | United Nations Drug Control Program |
| UNDEP | United Nations Development Programme |
| UNDESA | United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs |
| UNDG | United Nations Development Group |
| UNDMT | United Nations Disaster Management Team |
| UNDP | United Nations Development Programme |
| UNCDF | United Nations Capital Development Fund |
| UNEP | United Nations Environmental Programme |
| UNESCO | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation |
| UNFPA | United Nations Population Fund |
| UNHAS | United Nations Humanitarian Air Services |
| UNHCHR | United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights |
| UNHCR | United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |
| UNHRD | United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot |
| UNHSP | United Nations Human Settlement Programme |
| UNIC | United Nations Information Centre |
| UNICEF | United Nations Children`s Fund |
| UNIDAR | United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research |
| UNIDO | United Nations Industrial Development Organization |
| UNIFEM | United Nations Development Fund for Women |
| UNITAR | United Nations Institute for Training and Research |
| UNJLC | United Nations Joint Logistics Centre |
| UNOE | UN Owned Equipment (DPKO) |
| UNOHCI | United Nations Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq |
| UNOPS | United Nations Office for Project Services |
| UNRWA | United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Relief in the Near East |
| UNSC | United Nations Security Council |
| UNSECOORD | Unted Nations Security Coordinator |
| UNSMT | United Nations Security Management Team |
| UNV | United Nations Volunteers |
| USAF | United States Air Force |
| USAID | United States Agency for International Development |
| USG | Under Secretary General (UN) or United States Government |
| UXO | Unexploded Ordnance |
V | |
| VAT | Value Added Tax |
| VFR | Visual Flight Rules |
| VHF | Very High Frequency Radios. Rely on line of sight. Used for air and ground communications, but on different frequency bands. |
| VOR | Very High Frequency omni-directional Radio-ranging |
| Vulnerable Groups | Children, especially unaccompanied children, the unaccompanied elderly, persons who are handicapped or chronically ill, single women, and single heads of households. |
| Vulnerability | Internal risk factor of a subject, object, or system exposed to a hazard that corresponds to its intrinsic susceptibility to damage. |
W | |
| WEU | Western European Union. |
| WFP | World Food Programme |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
| WHO Emergency Kit | Standard list of drugs and medical supplies WHO has identified and can make available as needed for an emergency. The kit is configured to be used by 10,000 people for 3 months. |
| WMD* | Weapons of Mass Destruction |
| WMO | World Meteorological Organisation |
| WSB | Wheat-Soya Blend. A fortified cereal blend used for targeted, vulnerable groups in an at-risk population. |
| WVRD | World Vision Relief and Development. |
Y Z | |
| YMCA | Young Men's Christian Association. |
| Zulu Time | Also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or Co-ordinated Universal Time (UCT). Method of synchronising time worldwide to the time at the zero meridian of longitude. |
Publication date
2006-Apr-28
