Assisting on the Return Journey: International Law and the Role of the International Community

Abstract

Most major disasters involve an element of international response, when other countries, and citizens, provide 'cash-or-kind relief' to an affected State. In this paper I will argue that how a country responds to a disaster is also a matter of significance under international law. The international community (other States, international organisations such as the United Nations and its specialised agencies as well as non-government organisations (NGOs)) are taking a greater interest in how States manage disaster recovery and are asserting new rights to intervene where they think that is appropriate.