A/RES/55/163 capacities, in order to lay the foundation for an efficient and effective use of resources available and collaborative efforts, Noting the establishment of the secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and the need to strengthen cooperation and coordination among all relevant bodies of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, in dealing with all phases of natural disasters, 1. Expresses deep concern at the increasing number and scale of natural disasters, resulting in massive losses of life and property worldwide, in particular in vulnerable societies lacking adequate capacity to mitigate effectively the long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences of natural disaster; 2. Stresses that humanitarian assistance for natural disasters should be provided in accordance with and with due respect for the guiding principles contained in the annex to resolution 46/182 and should be determined on the basis of the human dimension and needs arising out of the particular natural disasters; 3. Calls upon all States to adopt, where required, and to continue to implement effectively necessary legislative and other appropriate measures to mitigate the effects of natural disasters, inter alia, by disaster prevention, including building regulations and appropriate land use, as well as disaster preparedness and capacity-building in disaster response, and requests the international community in this context to continue to assist developing countries, where appropriate; 4. Stresses, in this context, the importance of strengthening international cooperation in the provision of humanitarian assistance for all phases of a disaster, from relief and mitigation to development, including through the provision of adequate resources; 5. Recognizes that economic growth and sustainable development contribute to improving the capacity of States to mitigate, respond to and prepare for natural disasters; 6. Stresses the need to strengthen efforts at all levels, including at the domestic level, to improve natural disaster awareness, prevention, preparedness and mitigation, including early warning systems, as well as international cooperation in response to emergencies, from relief to rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, bearing in mind the overall negative impact of natural disasters, the resulting humanitarian need and requests from affected countries, as appropriate; 7. Recognizes efforts by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, the members of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and other members of the United Nations system in promoting preparedness for response at the national, regional and international levels and in strengthening the mobilization and coordination of humanitarian assistance of the United Nations system in the field of natural disasters, and in this context welcomes the expansion of the United Nations disaster assessment and coordination teams to include experts from all areas of the world; 8. Notes that the transition phase after natural disasters is often excessively long and characterized by a number of gaps and that Governments, in cooperation with relief agencies, as appropriate, when planning for meeting immediate needs, should place these needs in the perspective of sustainable development whenever such an approach is possible, and in this context takes note of the work of the United Nations disaster assessment and coordination teams; 2