Astronauts at heart of new IFRC campaign for world’s first international disaster treaty

International treaties protect astronauts in distress. But if a flood strikes your city, there is still no comprehensive global treaty to help countries cut through red tape and coordinate international assistance. New York/Geneva, 3 September 2026 – The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is today launching a new global campaign, Earth’s Missing Treaty, to highlight a stark reality: while international law protects astronauts in distress, there is no comprehensive international treaty setting out how countries should cooperate to protect people before, during and after disasters. The campaign highlights IFRC’s call for countries to support the adoption of the Treaty on the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters, which UN Member States have agreed to negotiate and which would be the first comprehensive global treaty dedicated to protecting people before, during and after disasters. A global treaty would provide a common framework for international cooperation before disasters strike and when international assistance is needed. In practice, this could mean faster deployment of humanitarian teams, simpler customs and border procedures for life-saving supplies, more predictable cooperation between governments and humanitarian organisations, lower costs and fewer administrative barriers, and better protection for people affected by disasters. Alongside the campaign, IFRC is publishing new global analysis showing why a disaster treaty is needed and the difference it could make. The research brings together data on disaster risk, protection and barriers to international assistance, alongside four country case studies from Belize, Fiji, Lebanon and Madagascar. Read the case studies for Belize, Fiji, Lebanon and Madagascar. In 2027, governments will convene to negotiate the treaty, and IFRC is supporting them throughout the process with technical expertise and decades of experience in disaster preparedness and response. IFRC’s ca