Abu Dhabi, June 20th,2007 (WAM) -- On its second running day, theMiddle East Disaster Response Laws, Rules and Principles programme (IDRL) discussed the ?Draft Guidelines for the DomesticFacilitation and Regulation of International Disaster Reliefand Initial Recovery Assistance? which are to be submittedfor adoption at the Red Cross Red Crescent InternationalConference in Geneva in November 2007.

The Middle East IDRL Forum will create an opportunityfor the region to give feedback towards the ongoing consultativeprocess on the IDRL ?Draft Guidelines.

The forum, which is being hosted by the Government of the UnitedArab Emirates, will gather high-level representatives of governments,Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, UN agencies, NGOs and otherkey stakeholders to discuss legal issues in international disaster response.

Delegates presented papers on field and practical experiencesin some disaster-hit regions.

Representative of the Arab League Mohammed Khadra spoke aboutthe pan-Arab organisation's efforts to create the legal and regulatoryframeworks to facilitate delivery of relief during disasters.

Ibrahim Mohammed Othman, Deputy Secretary General of theInternational Federation of Red Cross and Red CrescentSocieties, said that the Middle East region saw since 1970 a seriesof disasters affecting 46 million persons, killing over 100,000 personsand inflicting casualties worth US$ 21 billion.

The two-day forum reviewed common legal issues encounteredby Middle Eastern actors involved in receiving and providing internationaldisaster assistance and analyzeed the current frameworks for internationaldisaster response to identify gaps in scope and implementation and toshare good practice.

It is expected to develop recommendations on ways toimprove the effectiveness and implementation of regulatory frameworksat the international, regional and national level.

Common challenges for international disaster responsefacing personnel include delayed or refused entrypermission/visas for foreign relief workers, legal difficulties hiringlocal staff and volunteers, lack of legal protection, privileges and immunitiesfor relief workers and lack of recognition ofprofessional qualifications of relief workers.

On legal status of foreign organizations, the challenges cover lengthyprocedures for registration / legal status, difficulties transferring/exchanging money, difficulties opening bank accounts and carrying outmandate.

As for goods and equipment, the challenges centre on delays on the import,export and transit of relief goods, medicines and equipment, impositionof taxes, fees and tolls on relief activities, restricted use ofcommunications equipment and difficulties with use of vehicles, aircraftand shipping.

In the area of coordination, quality and accountability, the aid providersface difficulties sending unnecessary or inappropriate relief items andassistance, undervaluing local knowledge and responsecapacities, use of untrained or unqualified personnel and lack of adherenceto quality/accountability standards.