Identifying principles of international disaster law

There is still debate as to whether or not international disaster law can or should be viewed as a distinct branch of international law. This chapter argues that identifying key legal principles applicable to disasters can provide one way of clarifying some of the contours and limitations of international disaster law. The chapter commences with a discussion of principles as a source of international law from the perspective of general principles of law. It then explores the role of specialised principles of international law, including analysis of principles found within established branches of the law, such as international humanitarian law and international environmental law. The chapter concludes by considering potential principles which might be applicable in the context of disasters and the next steps for expanding our understanding of the sources of international disaster law.