United Nations
General Assembly
A/RES/58/26
Distr.: General
29 January 2004
Fifty-eighth session
Agenda item 40 (b)
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 5 December 2003
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/58/L.35 and Add.1)]
58/26. Emergency humanitarian assistance to Malawi
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions in particular, resolutions 46/182 of
19 December 1991, 54/219 and 54/233 of 22 December 1999, 55/163 of
14 December 2000 and 56/103 of 14 December 2001, and Economic and Social
Council resolution 2002/32 of 26 July 2002,
Convinced that all people have the right to a standard of living adequate for
the health and well-being of themselves and their families, including food, medical
care, necessary social services and security in the event of lack of livelihood in
circumstances beyond their control,
Noting that drought and other types of natural disasters have proved to be
recurring phenomena in Malawi,
Reiterating that natural disasters damage the social and economic
infrastructure of affected countries, although the long-term consequences of such
natural disasters are especially severe for poor developing countries, including
Malawi, and hamper sustainable development,
Concerned that Malawi continues to face natural catastrophes such as drought,
floods and heavy rains, causing serious crop failure, loss of life and extensive
damage to property and infrastructure,
Noting that an increasing number of cases of malnutrition, particularly among
children, and deaths due to hunger-related diseases continue to occur in Malawi,
with adverse long-term consequences,
Deeply alarmed that the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS has increased the
vulnerability of communities, creating greater levels of dependency and severely
reducing their ability to cope with humanitarian crises,
Gravely concerned that the capability of the national economy to absorb such
shocks has been seriously eroded and that the frequent occurrence of extreme
natural disasters has increasingly contributed to the stagnation of social and
economic development,
Acknowledging that national efforts are critical to prevent the deepening of the
humanitarian crisis,
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