Now, the Asian tsunami is testing the organization's capacity for coordinating aid on a global scale.
The foundation has coordinated private humanitarian aid and resettlement programs for more than 7,000 Cuban refugees.
Since 1998, the organization has coordinated the distribution of food and other lifesaving aid to children and families in countries all over the world.
Probably the most important function of central dispatching is to coordinate mutual aid among the bordering fire districts.
Last month, the European Community's executive commission, coordinating aid from 24 Western countries, suggested $660 million for next year.
It is therefore logical to coordinate aid when it comes to combating them.
It is the African countries that should have the crucial role in coordinating aid, proceeding on the basis of their own strategies for combating poverty.
Other international organisations are better equipped to coordinate humanitarian aid.
It can be clearly seen that the mechanisms which coordinate humanitarian aid are not the best.
At the same time, we need to coordinate the existing national and international aid more efficiently.