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Although not often in the news, Central Asia is a region that suffers greatly from the effects of disasters. These range from ravaging floods, mudslides and landslides, to shattering earthquakes and avalanches. Situated within the region is the rugged, landlocked country of Kyrgyzstan, residing in an active seismic zone, and at significant risk of disasters.

In May, more than sixty representatives from government, parliament, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, UN agencies and NGOs met at the UN House in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to mull over a new draft law on “International Humanitarian Aid in Emergency Situations”.  

The Disaster Law Programme has now published, for the first time in its English translation, a report commissioned by the Kazakhstan Red Crescent with support from the IFRC and the Norwegian Red Cross analysing Kazakhstan’s legal preparedness for international disaster assistance.

Central Asia is a highly disaster-prone region, subject not only to flooding but also extreme cold and earthquakes. Annually, disasters represent an estimated average cost of $20 million in the region, and scientists forecast an increase of vulnerability in the coming 20 years due to higher seismic activities. The likelihood that international assistance might be needed for future events is growing.

This month, the German and the Netherlands Red Cross Societies have published comprehensive studies on the existing legal and institutional frameworks in their countries for the receipt of international disaster assistance.

The law faculties of the Universities of Bologna, Roma Tre, Uninettuno and Pisa, S. Anna (acting through their "International Disaster Law Project") and the IFRC Disaster Law Programme will co-convene their first joint "International Disaster Law Course" for academics and practioners hosted at the International Institute for Humanitarian Law in Sanremo, Italy on 28 April - 2 May 2014. 

In a unique new partnership, the Italian Red Cross (IRC) and the Università Telematica Internazional Uninettuno (UTIU) in Rome are collaborating to educate IRC volunteers on laws relating to international disaster response (IDRL) and related topics. The first training course was held in May, delivering specialized knowledge on the topic and providing an opportunity for volunteers to become IDRL instructors.

This month a regional court in Italy convicted six earthquake scientists and an ex-government official of multiple manslaughter for the deaths of 309 people killed in the 6.3 earthquake that hit L'Aquila on 6 April 2009. The case has sent shockwaves around the scientific and legal world. It also sends a sobering message for those who offer their expertise towards disaster risk reduction - whether as paid officials or as volunteers.

In mid-September, the Italian Red Cross convened more than 200 volunteer International Humanitarian Law (IHL) instructors in Gaeta (Italy) for its 9th National Conference on IHL. This conference is organized with the assistance of senior scholars from a number of
universities and other institutions to inform Red Cross instructors about the latest developments in international law.