Newswise — Creighton University Professor Michael J. Kelly has co-edited a new book, “The International Law of Disaster Relief,” examining the role and impact of international law on disaster recovery efforts around the globe.

Disasters strike regions around the world indiscriminately and with devastating consequences. Local populations are often insufficiently prepared to respond to such catastrophes. As a result, their recovery efforts are largely dependent upon foreign aid. International law can play a significant role in the recovery after inevitable natural disasters. But without clear legal frameworks, foreign aid may be stopped, delayed, or even hijacked — placing the intended suffering recipients in critical condition.

“The International Law of Disaster Relief” brings together experts, emerging scholars, and practitioners in the field of international disaster law from North America, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia. In the book, the experts analyze the evolution of international disaster law as a field that encompasses new ideas about human rights, sovereignty and technology. Chapters focus on specific natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, Cyclone Nargis, and Typhoon Hainan, in addition to volcanic and earthquake activity, wildfires and desertification.

“Providing disaster relief to developing nations presents a number of challenging roadblocks,” said Kelly, who is the associate dean for Faculty Research and Graduate & International Programs at Creighton University. “This book begins a dialog of how new international legal framework can be developed that breaks down barriers to provide aid to the people that need it as quickly as possible.”

The book, published by Cambridge University Press, is co-edited by David D. Caron of King's College London and Anastasia Telesetsky of University of Idaho School of Law. The editors signed copies of the book at the official book launch on Oct. 31 at King's College London.