A/RES/49/139 Page 5 Recalling also its resolutions 45/264 of 13 May 1991 and 48/162 of 20 December 1993, Recognizing, in the light of the increasing number and growing magnitude and complexity of natural disasters and other emergencies, the need to utilize fully the national potential of countries in providing the United Nations, on a stand-by basis, with support for its activities in the area of humanitarian emergency assistance, as well as in the promotion of a smooth transition from relief to rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, Also recognizing the importance of enhancing the national capacity of countries in disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness, as well as the importance of eradication of poverty in developing countries, in order to reduce their vulnerabilities, Welcoming national initiatives, such as the establishment of a national volunteer corps called "White Helmets", undertaken in order to strengthen the stand-by capacity of developing countries, to support the United Nations activities in the area of humanitarian emergency assistance, as well as in the promotion of a smooth transition from relief to rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, Further recognizing the role of the United Nations Volunteers, including in the mobilization of resources oriented towards the provision of humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and technical cooperation for development, 1. Notes with satisfaction the initiatives undertaken by the international community in order to facilitate quick and adequate response to humanitarian emergencies and to provide effective support to the rehabilitation and development efforts of affected countries; 2. Encourages voluntary national and regional actions aimed at providing the United Nations system, on a stand-by basis, with specialized human and technical resources for emergency relief and rehabilitation, and, in this regard, notes with satisfaction the establishment, in particular in developing countries, of national volunteer corps; 3. Also encourages those national volunteer corps to develop the appropriate capabilities in order to cooperate, at the field level and in their respective area of expertise, with the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations, in accordance with the relevant provisions of resolution 46/182 and other relevant United Nations resolutions; 4. Invites Governments to promote at the national level the development of innovative financial mechanisms to fund these national stand-by capacities, by involving, inter alia, the private sector; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the Economic and Social Council at its next substantive session incorporating the views expressed by Governments and appropriate intergovernmental organizations and relevant entities within the United Nations system, in particular the Department of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and the United Nations Volunteers, on ways and means of strengthening national and regional stand-by arrangements, including the establishment and full utilization of national volunteer corps, in the area of emergency humanitarian assistance, as well as in the promotion of a smooth transition from relief to rehabilitation, /...