United Nations General Assembly A/RES/57/150 Distr.: General 27 February 2003 Fifty-seventh session Agenda item 21 (a) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [without reference to a Main Committee (A/57/L.60 and Add.1)] 57/150. Strengthening the effectiveness and coordination of international urban search and rescue assistance The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, the annex to which contains the guiding principles for strengthening the coordination of humanitarian assistance of the United Nations system, and its resolutions 54/233 of 22 December 1999, 55/163 of 14 December 2000, 56/103 of 14 December 2001 and 56/195 of 21 December 2001, and recalling agreed conclusions 1998/1 1 and 1999/1 2 of the Economic and Social Council and Council resolution 2002/32 of 26 July 2002, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on international cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development, 3 Deeply concerned by the increasing number and scale of disasters, resulting in massive losses of life and property worldwide, as well as their long-term consequences, especially severe for developing countries, 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, humanitarian assistance should be provided with the consent of the affected country and, in principle, on the basis of an appeal by 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, Recognizing the importance of the principles of neutrality, humanity and impartiality for the provision of humanitarian assistance, _______________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (A/53/3 and Corr.1), chap. VII, para. 5. 2 Ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/54/3/Rev.1), chap. VI, para. 5. 3 A/57/578. 02 54809