ABSTRACT
Natural factors and human activity lead with increasing frequency to calam - itous events – ‘disasters’ – which result in human suffering and environmental damage, and which seriously disrupt the functioning of society.1 Disruptions often include the partial destruction of public infrastructures, such as roads and transportation, and the immediate discontinuation of access to important services, including water, housing, electricity and communication. Disasters may thus jeopardise the enjoyment of several human rights, including the rights to life, food, health and property.2
