Described as short-notice contingency forces, RDFs can be formed both unilaterally and with partners, and be deployed in situations where their military organization, training, and equipment, such as transport and communications, enable them to cope with a totally civil situation; their activities range from disaster relief (earthquakes, floods etc), to humanitarian relief (famines), to operations to maintain the peace by separating warring sides, to actual warfare; RDF is the generic term, whereas rapid reaction force is the name given to various specific formations.