Law and legal issues in international disaster response: a desk study

With the rise in the number of disasters and international actors involved, international disaster response is becoming increasingly complex from a regulatory standpoint. Legal problems are emerging as a major impediment to efficiently and appropriately meeting the needs of affected communities and promoting local capacity and resilience. This desk study compiles the insights gained by the International Federation’s IDRL programme through its legal research, case studies, consultations and a global survey on existing regulatory frameworks and remaining problem areas.

• Full publication (8.9 Mb, 216 page)
• Desk study summary (2.5 Mb, 28 page)
  Desk study summary - Arabic version (3.3 Mb, 28 page)
  Desk study summary - French version (3.2 Mb, 28 page)
  Desk study summary - Spanish version (3.3 Mb, 28 page)
• Introduction: Foreword; Table of contents; Acknowledgments; Executive summary; Table of abbreviations and Introduction (604 Kb, 17 pages)
• Chapter 1: Part I: Background and context (676 Kb, 7 pages)
• Chapter 2: Historical and operational context (1.5 Mb, 7 pages)
• Chapter 3: Part II: Overview of current legal frameworks applicable to international disaster response (7.9 Mb, 30 pages)
• Chapter 4: Regional law and norms (3.4 Kb, 19 pages)
• Chapter 5: Bilateral treaties and agreements (120 Kb, 3 pages)
• Chapter 6: National law (147 Kb, 2 pages)
• Chapter 7: Summary and conclusions on existing frameworks (188 Kb, 3 pages)
• Chapter 8: Initiation and termination (140 Kb, 9 pages)
• Chapter 9: Goods and equipment (317 Kb, 18 pages)
• Chapter 10: Personnel (172 Kb, 6 pages)
• Chapter 11: Transport and movement (140 Kb, 3 pages)
• Chapter 12: Operations (205 Kb, 8 pages)
• Chapter 13: Quality and accountability (392 Kb, 17 pages)
• Chapter 14: Coordination (158 Kb, 4 pages)
• Chapter 15: Involvement of militaries and mixed situations of disaster and conflict (161 Kb, 4 pages)
• Conclusion and recommendation (53 Kb, 3 pages)
• Summary of ideas for the future (55 Kb, 3 pages)
• End notes (587 Kb, 28 pages)
• Annexes:
  • Appendix 1 - Final goal 3.2;
  • Appendix 2 - Studies carried out by or in coordination with the International Federation’s IDRL Programme (2002-2007); and
  • Appendix 3 -Report of the IDRL Questionnaire of 2006 (290 Kb, 21 pages)
• Cover (416 Kb, 4 pages)
• Related press release: Legal preparedness essential for effective emergency relief in disasters, says new Federation report

International disaster response laws, principles and practice: reflections, prospects and challenges

This publication includes papers written by legal experts and disaster managers covering a range of topics from the conceptual to the practical on the various laws, rules and principles applicable in peace time disasters.

• Table of contents (66 Kb, 1 page)
• Chapter 1: What is the scope of international response law? (562 Kb, 8 pages)
• Chapter 2: International disaster response law treaties: trends, patterns and lacunate (1.12 Mb, 21 pages)
• Chapter 3: International natural disaster response and the United Nations (512 Kb, 10 pages)
• Chapter 4: International disaster response law and displaced persons (702 Kb, 14 pages)
• Chapter 5: International disaster reponse law in a southern African context (540 Kb, 10 pages)
• Chapter 6: Reflections on the International Disaster Response Law Project and experiences in serbia and Montenegro (498 Kb, 10 pages)
• Chapter 7: International Disaster Response Law Project field studies in south Asia, southern Africa and Central America (621 Kb, 13 pages)
• Chapter 8: The laws and principles governing preparedness, relief and rehabilitation operations: the unique case of the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies (533 Kb, 10 pages)
• Chapter 9: Applying humanitarian principles in disaster relief: a case study from Zimbabwe (661 Kb, 13 pages)
• Chapter 10: Accountability to disaster-affected populations (579 Kb, 12 pages)