United Nations A/RES/56/103 General Assembly Distr.: General 5 February 2002 Fifty-sixth session Agenda item 20 (a) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [without reference to a Main Committee (A/56/L.51 and Corr.1 and Add.1)] 56/103. International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, the annex to which contains the guiding principles for the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations system, and its resolutions 52/12 B of 19 December 1997, 54/219 and 54/233 of 22 December 1999 and 55/163 of 14 December 2000, and recalling agreed conclusions 1999/1 of the Economic and Social Council 1 and Council resolution 1999/63 of 30 July 1999, Recognizing the importance of the principles of neutrality, humanity and impartiality for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Emphasizing that the affected State has the primary responsibility in the initiation, organization, coordination and implementation of humanitarian assistance within its territory, and in the facilitation of the work of humanitarian organizations in mitigating the consequences of natural disasters, Emphasizing also the responsibility of all States to undertake disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts in order to minimize the impact of natural disasters, Welcoming the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, Emphasizing the importance of raising awareness among developing countries of the capacities existing at the national, regional and international levels that could be deployed to assist them, Emphasizing also the importance of international cooperation in support of the efforts of the affected States in dealing with natural disasters in all their phases, including prevention, preparedness, mitigation and recovery and reconstruction, and of strengthening the response capacity of affected countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on international cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief _______________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/54/3/Rev.1), chap. VI, para. 5. 01 48055