Law and legal issues in international disaster response: a desk study, the IDRL Programme’s new study, was launched at a media event on 5th November at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Mr. Ibrahim Osman, Deputy Secretary General of the International Federation and Mr. David Fisher, Senior Legal Research Officer, IDRL, highlighted the study’s findings that well-functioning legal and policy frameworks are key to ensuring that disaster-affected persons receive the right aid, at the right time and in the right manner. Lack of legal preparedness exacerbates barriers and delays for international assistance, while at the same time rendering receiving authorities’ tasks in coordination and regulation more difficult. For the full text of the desk study and its translated summaries: http://www.ifrc.org/what/disasters/IDRL/index.asp .