A/RES/51/194
Page 2
Recognizing the need for coordinated humanitarian assistance and
adequate financial resources to ensure a prompt, timely and effective response
by the United Nations to natural disasters and other emergencies, both for
immediate relief and for the smooth transition from relief to rehabilitation,
reconstruction and long-term development, which are not necessarily sequential
and often proceed at the same time,
Bearing in mind the critical importance of prevention, preparedness and
contingency planning for a timely and effective response to both natural and
other emergencies by the Governments concerned and the international
community,
Welcoming the request to the Secretary-General by the Economic and
Social Council, in its resolution 1995/56, to submit to the Council, at its
substantive session of 1997, in close cooperation with relevant organizations
of the United Nations system, a comprehensive analytical report, including
options, proposals and recommendations for a review of issues concerning the
role and operational responsibilities and strengthening of all aspects of the
capacity of the United Nations system for humanitarian assistance,
Deeply concerned about the suffering of victims of disasters and
emergency situations, the loss of human lives, the flow of refugees, the mass
displacement of people and the material destruction,
Reaffirming that the sovereignty, territorial integrity and national
unity of States must be fully respected in accordance with the Charter of the
United Nations and, in this context, that humanitarian assistance should be
provided with the consent of the affected country and in principle on the
basis of an appeal of the affected country,
Reaffirming also that each State has the responsibility first and
foremost to take care of the victims of natural disasters and other
emergencies occurring on its territory, and hence, the affected State has the
primary role in the initiation, organization, coordination and implementation
of humanitarian assistance within its territory,
Strongly emphasizing the urgent need to ensure, respect and promote
international humanitarian law, principles and norms, the safety of
humanitarian personnel and the need for States whose populations are in need
of humanitarian assistance to facilitate the work of humanitarian
organizations in implementing humanitarian assistance, in particular the
supply of food, medicines, shelter and health care, for which access to
victims is essential, and reaffirming that humanitarian assistance must be
provided in accordance with the principles of humanity, neutrality and
impartiality,
Concerned about the impediments created by natural disasters and similar
emergencies to the development efforts of the affected countries, and
welcoming the efforts of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs, in the
context of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, to promote
disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness measures,
Commending the activities of the United Nations Volunteers, and of the
"White Helmets", deployed in the context of the implementation of General
Assembly resolutions 49/139 B of 29 December 1994 and 50/19 of 28 November
1995, as well as other activities to improve, in accordance with resolutions
/...