International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in
the field of natural disasters, from relief to development
A/RES/71/128
Framework Convention on Climate Change 4 that have not yet done so to deposit
their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or access ion, where
appropriate, as soon as possible,
Noting with appreciation the hosting by the Government of Morocco of the
twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, the twelfth session of the Conference of
the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and the first
session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the
Paris Agreement, held in Marrakech, Morocco, from 7 to 18 November 2016,
Emphasizing the fundamentally civilian character of humanitarian assistance,
reaffirming, in situations in which military capacity and assets are used as a last
resort to support the implementation of humanitarian assistance in the field of
natural disasters, the need for their use to be undertaken with the consent of the
affected State and in conformity with international law, including international
humanitarian law, as well as humanitarian principles, and emphasizing also in this
regard the need for Member States to coordinate with all relevant actors early on in
a disaster response so as to ensure the predictable, coherent and needs -based
deployment of military assets and personnel supporting humanitarian assistance,
Emphasizing also 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 further the primary responsibility of each State to undertake
disaster risk reduction and management, including through the voluntary
implementation of and follow-up to the Sendai Framework, as well as response and
early recovery efforts, in order to minimize the impact of disasters, while
recognizing the importance of international cooperation in support of the efforts of
affected countries which may have limited capacities in this regard,
Noting the convening of the International Conference on the Implementation
of the Health Aspects of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030,
in Bangkok on 10 and 11 March 2016, which adopted the Bangkok Principles for
the implementation of the health aspects of the Sendai Framework as a contribution
to the Sendai Framework to build resilient health systems,
Recognizing the primary role of Member States in preparing for and
responding to outbreaks of infectious disease, including those that become
humanitarian crises, highlighting the critical role played by Member States, the
World Health Organization as the directing and coordinating authority on
international health work, the United Nations humanitarian system, regional
organizations, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and other
humanitarian actors in providing financial, technical and in -kind support in order to
bring epidemics or pandemics under control, and recognizing also the need to
strengthen local and national health systems, early reporting and early warning
systems, preparedness, cross-sectoral response capacities, and resilience linked to
outbreaks of infectious disease, including through capacity -building for developing
countries,
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