International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development A/RES/67/231 Recognizing the progress made by the United Nations Platform for Spacebased Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) in its mission, encouraging Member States to provide all support necessary, on a voluntary basis, to UN-SPIDER, including financial support, to enable it to carry out its workplan for 2012–2013, and reiterating the importance of enhancing international coordination and cooperation at the global level in disaster management and emergency response through greater access to and use of space-based services for all countries and by facilitating capacity-building and institutional strengthening for disaster management, in particular in developing countries, Taking note of the progress in the establishment of the Global Framework for Climate Services to develop and provide science-based climate information and prediction for climate risk management and for adaptation to climate variability and change, and looking forward to its 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, 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, Reaffirming that strengthening resilience contributes to withstanding, adapting to and quickly recovering from disasters, Recognizing that efforts to achieve economic growth, sustainable development and internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, can be adversely affected by natural disasters, and noting the positive contribution that those efforts can make in strengthening the resilience of populations to such disasters, Recognizing also the clear relationship between emergency response, rehabilitation and development, and reaffirming that, in order to ensure a smooth transition from relief to rehabilitation and development, emergency assistance must be provided in ways that will be supportive of short- and medium-term recovery leading to long-term development and that certain emergency measures should be seen as a step towards sustainable development, Emphasizing, in this context, the important role of development organizations and other relevant stakeholders in supporting national efforts to mitigate the consequences of natural disasters, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; 5 2. Expresses its deep concern at the increasing impact of natural disasters, resulting in massive losses of life and property worldwide, in particular in _______________ 5 A/67/363. 3/8