United Nations
General Assembly
A/RES/58/25
Distr.: General
29 January 2004
Fifty-eighth session
Agenda item 40 (a)
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 5 December 2003
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/58/L.34 and Add.1)]
58/25.
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, as well as all its
resolutions on international cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of
natural disasters, from relief to development, and recalling the resolutions of the
humanitarian segments of the substantive sessions of the Economic and Social
Council,
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 importance of integrating risk reduction into
development planning and post-disaster recovery,
Emphasizing further, in this context, the important role of development
organizations in supporting national efforts to mitigate the consequences of natural
disasters,
Emphasizing the responsibility of all States to undertake disaster preparedness,
response and mitigation efforts in order to minimize the impact of natural disasters,
while recognizing the importance of international cooperation in support of the
efforts of affected countries which may have limited capacities to fulfil this
requirement,
Welcoming the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction,
Stressing that national authorities need to enhance the resilience of populations
to disasters through, inter alia, implementation of the International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction so as to reduce risks to people, their livelihoods, the social and
economic infrastructure and environmental resources,
03 45441