The implications of international rescue and relief operations for domestic regulatory regimes\u2014lessons from the 2011 East Japan Earthquake

Yoshi Kodama

doi:10.1186/s41018-020-00085-1

Abstract

This article attempts to reveal how and why international rescue and relief operations had difficulties, following the 2011 East Japan earthquake, in being smoothly received in a country like Japan with well-prepared domestic natural disaster response mechanisms as well as highly regulated economy and society. To this end, the article examines lessons and challenges from the operations by foreign rescue and relief assistance teams then tries to present possible solutions and prescriptions for adjustment and improvement of inter-state frameworks as well as domestic laws and regulations. Issues are generally analogous to trade and investment liberalisation as well as inter-state deregulatory endeavours, which may give some insights in addressing post-disaster regulatory and procedural impediments.

Highlights

This article attempts to reveal how and why international rescue and relief operations had difficulties at the 2011 East Japan Earthquake in being smoothly received in a country like Japan with well-prepared domestic natural disaster response mechanisms as well as highly regulated economy and society
The method of analysis in this article is based upon the ‘bottom-up’ approach
There may be an alternative approach to tackle challenges by codifying comprehensive multilateral legally binding instruments covering relevant aspects with institutional backings, such as collective decision-making processes and dispute settlement procedures dealing with discrepancies in application (International Law Commission (ILC) 2016, as an example of comprehensive legislative approach)

Summary

Introduction

This article attempts to reveal how and why international rescue and relief operations had difficulties at the 2011 East Japan Earthquake in being smoothly received in a country like Japan with well-prepared domestic natural disaster response mechanisms as well as highly regulated economy and society. Challenges of emergency rescue and relief operations in a highly regulated state Sequential stages of assistance operations Following the occurrence of a large-scale natural disaster, including an earthquake and subsequent tidal waves, operations typically commence with information collection and immediate evacuation of those affected and those facing risks of further damage.2 In the case of an earthquake and tidal waves, aftershocks and repetitive waves further hinder such information collecting activities as well as initial evacuation and rescue operations (International Development Centre of Japan (‘Centre’) 2014: 2.1).

Results

Conclusion