Towards an international legal framework for the protection of individuals in the event of disasters: An initial inquiry

Abstract

The issue of protection and assistance of individuals in the event of disasters is of great contemporary relevance. It is particularly saddening to see the increase in disasters, to illustrate a few-the Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004), massive South Asia earthquake (2005), Myanmar cyclone (2008)-that bring to the fore the importance of a well-coordinated humanitarian action for relief assistance and rehabilitation of victims of such disasters. As this chapter was being finalized, a massive earthquake wreaked havoc in Haiti. The task of humanitarian aid and assistance is more challenging in Haiti as relief has to be provided in a scenario where there is presently a non-functioning government and collapsed infrastructure in the country. Another factor that vitiates such complex emergencies is the lack of a sound legal framework for expediting and providing meaningful humanitarian relief operations. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.