Purpose:

The Model Act is intended as a reference tool for voluntary use by disaster management officials and/or legislators who wish to develop domestic legislation, regulation, and/or procedures in their countries for managing potential future international disaster assistance.

Why should they want to do this? Simply put, global experience has shown that managing international assistance operations is becoming increasingly complex. The absence of a specific domestic regulatory framework can make it very difficult for an affected state to properly oversee, regulate and facilitate the entry of lifesaving relief. Ad hoc approaches, hastily devised in the wake of a catastrophic disaster, have often led to a loss of state control and the arrival of inappropriate or poor quality relief. They also frequently result in unnecessary restrictions, delays and expenses hampering the right aid, just when it is most urgently needed.

Unfortunately, very few governments have comprehensive rules or procedures in place related to international disaster assistance, notwithstanding the common experience of regulatory problems. This model draws on elements that do already exist in domestic laws of countries from various regions and is designed as a concept for a functioning system of oversight and facilitation.

The use of the Model Act:

• This Model can and should be adjusted to the circumstances of each country.
• A stand-alone act may not be the right solution in every country – this Model may also be used as inspiration for “cut and paste” amendments to various existing acts, or for regulations or procedures.
• This Model assumes that there is already a law on domestic disaster management.

Target Audience: National Society Leaders and Staff