Asean: Better, faster disaster reliefs?

DURING the past three decades, the frequency of natural disasters has increased globally but the worst increase has been in the Asia-Pacific region. Be that as it may, advances in the science of disaster risk management point out that there are no true natural disasters. Many natural hazards are accelerated by human activity and no matter how “natural” the hazard, it is human exposure, vulnerability, resilience and preparedness that define whether a given event results merely in a rainy day or natural catastrophe. In short, human behavior can be regulated unlike the weather.

Studies of experiences about regulatory frameworks for reducing disaster risks, responding to disasters and recovering from them are still in their infancy. Yet states are increasingly turning to legal instruments at the national, regional and international levels to fight disasters. Are those legal instruments in place meeting their potential to increase cooperation on disaster risk management and humanitarian response ?