A/RES/69/243 International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development where appropriate, of regional and subregional capacities for disaster preparedness and response, which may be made available in closer proximity to the site of a disaster, and more efficiently and at lower cost; 16. Encourages innovative practices that draw on the knowledge of people affected by natural disasters to develop locally sustainable solutions and to produce lifesaving items locally, with minimal logistical and infrastructure implications; 17. Stresses, in this context, the importance of strengthening international cooperation, particularly through the effective use of multilateral mechanisms, in the timely provision of humanitarian assistance through all phases of a disaster, from relief and recovery to development, including the provision of adequate resources; 18. Encourages all relevant stakeholders, including Member States, to take appropriate measures to reduce and discourage the sending of unsolicited, unneeded or inappropriate relief goods in response to disasters; 19. Encourages all Member States to facilitate, to the extent possible, the transit of emergency humanitarian assistance and development assistance, provided in the context of international efforts, including in the phase from relief to development, in full accordance with the provisions of resolution 46/182 and the annex thereto, and in full respect of the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law; 20. Encourages Member States to put in place, as appropriate, customs measures to improve effectiveness in responding to natural disasters; 21. Reaffirms the leading role of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs as the focal point within the overall United Nations system for advocacy for and coordination of humanitarian assistance among United Nations humanitarian organizations and other humanitarian partners; 22. Welcomes the important contribution of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination system to the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance in supporting Member States, upon their request, and the United Nations system in preparedness and humanitarian response, and encourages the continued incorporation into this mechanism of experts from developing countries that are prone to natural disasters; 23. Also welcomes the important contribution of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group to the effectiveness of international urban search and rescue assistance, and encourages Member States to continue to support the Advisory Group, in line with General Assembly resolution 57/150 of 16 December 2002; 24. Urges Member States, the United Nations system and other humanitarian actors to consider the specific and differentiated consequences of natural disasters in both rural and urban areas when designing and implementing disaster risk reduction, prevention and mitigation, preparedness, humanitarian assistance and early recovery strategies, giving special emphasis to addressing the needs of those living in rural and urban poor areas prone to natural disasters; 25. Welcomes the continued efforts of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to build partnerships with regional organizations, traditional and non-traditional donors and the private sector, and encourages Member States and the United Nations system to continue to strengthen partnerships at the global, regional, national and local levels in support of national efforts in situations of 6/10