The protection of victims of armed conflicts is laid down in the Geneva Conventions, to which were added in 1977 some extremely important definitions contained in the Protocols.

But the protection of victims of disasters, natural or otherwise, has still not been governed by any international instruments binding governments. It is true that numerous attempts have been made to organize and co-ordinate relief when a disaster has occurred, with varying results, but the situation of individuals in a country struck by a disaster is governed only by that country's national legislation.