Disasters in Africa: the case for legal preparedness
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Material Information

Title:
Disasters in Africa: the case for legal preparedness
Creator:
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Disaster Risk Reduction Program, Florida International University (DRR/FIU) ( summary contributor )
Place of Publication:
Geneva, Switzerland
Publisher:
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Publication Date:
Copyright Date:
2011
Language:
English

Notes

Summary:
This document presents the efforts of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to develop and strengthen disaster laws across Africa, setting firm foundations for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and disaster management throughout the continent. Before a society can begin addressing disaster risks in a comprehensive manner, a legal framework must be established that treats such risks as a priority at both the level of government and that of society. The IFRC has placed emphasis on three key areas of disaster legislation. The first deals with disaster laws that promote DRR at the community level. Good disaster legislation can play a central role in empowering civil society and communities to act towards reducing risks. South Africa’s Disaster Management Act incorporates communities in decision-making for disaster management through community consultations, community level hazard mapping and risk monitoring, as well as the inclusion of indigenous knowledge. The second priority of disaster legislation is legal preparedness that facilitates international humanitarian assistance. A comprehensive disaster management framework should facilitate cooperation between domestic and international actors when disasters overwhelm the capacity of the given society. Such frameworks should make the dissemination of aid less bureaucratic, allowing much needed goods and assistance to reach those in need easily. The third policy area emphasized is shelter provision for disaster-affected populations. Often the absence of procedures to secure land for displaced families, lack of formal property titling systems, incomplete land registries, and discrimination against vulnerable populations stalls critical recovery efforts. The IFRC presents Kenya’s National Policy on Internal Displacement as a potential model for the continent. The IFRC calls on governments to focus more of their efforts on community-based DRR, because it is at the local level that vulnerability to disaster is experienced, and also where solutions to reduce risks and build resiliency can be found. The organization also recommends that domestic actors maintain the primary role during disaster response, with international actors simply complementing domestic efforts. Governments can further facilitate aid by exempting humanitarian organizations from taxes and fees, while also accelerating cumbersome legal processes. In order to remove barriers to shelter solutions post-disaster, the IFRC calls on governments to establish legal procedures that make land available for temporary shelter, protect the property rights of the displaced, and provide a mechanism to resolve land disputes. ( English,English,English,, )
Subject:
Disaster Risk Reduction
Scope and Content:
Introduction p. 3; Reducing the impacts of disasters: how law can promote community action p. 5; Legal preparedness for international assistance: clearing the way for relief p. 10; Securing shelter: removing the regulatory barriers p. 15; Conclusions p. 18
Citation/Reference:
(2011). Disasters in Africa: the case for legal preparedness. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
Rights Management:
Copies of all or part of this study may be made for noncommercial use, providing the source is acknowledged. The IFRC would appreciate receiving details of its use. Requests for commercial reproduction should be directed to the IFRC at secretariat@ifrc.org.
Resource Identifier:
FI13010937

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Aggregations:
Disaster Risk Reduction