Colombia Earthquake Highlights Israel's Lack of Unified Disaster Compensation System

The recent earthquake in Colombia serves as a stark reminder for Israel about the economic toll natural disasters can impose. Despite Israel's known seismic risks, it currently lacks a standardized compensation mechanism for victims of such events. Typically, individuals whose homes are destroyed or who suffer income loss or bodily harm must rely on personal insurance or existing legal channels, which treat each case individually rather than collectively.

Dr. Inbal Blau, an expert on compensation mechanisms for mass casualty events, explains that assigning liability in natural disasters is complex. Responsibility can sometimes be linked to negligence, such as construction defects or infrastructure failures, as seen in Hurricane Katrina. However, much of the financial burden often falls on the state. Blau emphasizes the need for proactive measures, including strengthening buildings and infrastructure in vulnerable areas and establishing clear post-disaster recovery frameworks that define responsible entities, funding sources, and victim compensation.

Historical experience in Israel shows that in the absence of a formal system, affected groups push for ad-hoc compensation arrangements, which can lead to unequal resource distribution and disparities among victims. Blau warns that without pre-established rules, Israel risks repeating this pattern if a major earthquake occurs. The Colombia earthquake illustrates that disaster costs extend far beyond immediate rescue efforts, with reconstruction of homes, businesses, and infrastructure potentially taking years and requiring substantial budgets.

The critical question for Israel remains whether it will develop a comprehensive compensation and rehabilitation system before the next disaster strikes or wait until the crisis unfolds, as has often happened in the past.