| Hi there, On the week of the second Mexican earthquake this month and yet another devastating hurricane in the Caribbean, we want to focus on issues that can be a matter of life and death in cases like these: government accountability, rule of law and humanitarian aid. When corruption creeps into areas like building regulation, safety measures, improving infrastructure or living up to anti-corruption promises, cutting corners or turning a blind eye can have fatal consequences. Officials sometimes take bribes to allow construction in risk-prone areas and construction companies often try to save money by cutting corners, ultimately risking the lives of those living or working in the buildings. In the case of Mexico City, after the 1985 earthquake new laws were made requiring builders and architects to take into account the dangerous soil below parts of the city and for officials to supervise and inspect all building processes. There should be investigations now to see if those regulations were always followed. Corruption can also exacerbate the aftermath of natural disasters. Food, water and medical supplies can be stolen and sold on the black market, leaving people in need without aid. Across the Caribbean and in Mexico this could become a serious threat to those trying to rebuild their lives. The risk of inefficient aid increases in politically charged circumstances like Mexico’s upcoming elections. Politicians misusing humanitarian crises as a platform for publicity is a risk. For example, after the 7 September earthquake there were reports of politicians withholding food and donations so they could get photographed distributing aid to bolster their image ahead of the upcoming elections. Aid agencies can do much to minimise corruption. We published a handbook to help in these circumstances. Aid agencies can analyse risks and local power structures as part of emergency preparations and staff training. Communities need to know who’s entitled to aid and they can monitor whether any aid went missing. Measures creating transparency and accountability before and after natural disasters require political will. Investing in proper resources and upholding rule of law will give huge returns and ultimately save lives. | 
