On 11 November, Honduras' National Congress adopted a “Law for the facilitation of humanitarian assistance in case of disasters and initial recovery” (‘Honduras IDRL Law’) and it has now been endorsed by Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez. The Honduran Red Cross and IFRC has provided support to the Government in the development of the text, and will now support the development of a new regulation to operationalize the law.
The Honduras IDRL Law, which drew on the IFRC's Model Law on IDRL, will facilitate international humanitarian aid delivered as donations to support the Hurricane Eta response and other disasters and crisis in the future. The Honduras IDRL Law also institutionalises an IDRL Group, composed of key government representatives (from the Ministries of Disaster Risk Management, Migration, Foreign Affairs, and Customs, among others), as well as the Honduran Red Cross and IFRC.
“This [new law] is important for aid to meet the purpose for which it is sent, and for avoiding that it spends months in custom warehouses, without benefit for the affected people who need it,’ said Deputy Tamás Zambrano of the Honduras National Congress.
Guatemala is also taking action to ensure a smoother facilitation of international assistance. Guatemala's international appeal for Hurricane Eta includes provisions inspired by the IDRL Guidelines and IDRL Model Emergency Decree. This includes establishing a focal point for the coordination of humanitarian aid, procedures for the reception of medicines, food, and used clothing, among others. The appeal explains the modalities and channels through which donors can provide humanitarian aid and details the specific needs and good requested (types of items, quantities, etc.).
These new instruments will facilitate a rapid, integrated and effective international response to Hurricane Eta in Honduras and Guatemala.