Health Law and Policy Commons^™

Blocking Humanitarian Assistance: A Crime Against Humanity?, John D. Kraemer, Dhrubajyoti Bhattacharya, Lawrence O. Gostin

John D Kraemer

Governments have the duty to respect, protect, and fulfill the right to health. During humanitarian emergencies, governments continue to have these duties. When large numbers of people are in grave risk of death or irreparable harm during humanitarian emergencies, governments have an obligation to mitigate that risk or, if they lack the resources, to allow and facilitate support from the international community. To block international assistance, as Burma did after Cyclone Nargis, can constitute a crime against humanity under international law.