International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development A/RES/70/107 Welcoming the initiative to hold the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), in Quito from 17 to 20 October 2016, and noting the importance of addressing, as appropriate, within the new urban agenda, policies to ensure a more effective response to natural disasters in urban areas, Noting that local communities are the first responders in most disasters, underlining the critical role played by in-country capacities in disaster risk reduction, including preparedness, as well as response and recovery, and acknowledging the need to support efforts of Member States to develop and enhance national and local capacities which are fundamental to improving the overall delivery of humanitarian assistance, Recognizing the adverse effects of climate change as contributors to environmental degradation and extreme weather events, which may, in certain instances, among other factors, contribute to disaster-induced human mobility, Recognizing also the high numbers of persons affected by natural disasters, including in this respect internally displaced persons, Reaffirming the importance of international cooperation in support of the efforts of the affected States in dealing with natural disasters in all their phases, in particular in preparedness, response and the early recovery phase, and of strengthening the response capacity of countries affected by disaster, Recognizing the progress made by the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) in its mission, Noting the progress of the Global Framework for Climate Services in developing and providing science-based climate information and prediction for climate risk management and for adaptation to climate variability and change, and looking forward to continued implementation, Welcoming the important role played by Member States, including developing countries, that have granted necessary and continued generous assistance to countries and peoples stricken by natural disasters, Recognizing the significant role played by national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, as part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in disaster preparedness and risk reduction, disaster response, rehabilitation and development, Recognizing also the significant achievements of the Central Emergency Response Fund in facilitating life-saving assistance to crisis-affected people by providing timely funding, enabling humanitarian organizations and their implementing partners to act quickly when tragedy strikes and steer resources to crises that do not receive the attention that they need and deserve, emphasizing the need to broaden and diversify the income base of the Fund, and welcoming in this context its tenth anniversary, Emphasizing the need to address vulnerability and to integrate disaster risk reduction, including preparedness, into all phases of natural disaster management, post-natural disaster recovery and development planning through close collaboration of all relevant actors and sectors, 3/12