United Nations A/RES/60/168 General Assembly Distr.: General 7 March 2006 Sixtieth session Agenda item 71 (b) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 16 December 2005 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II))] 60/168. Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons The General Assembly, Deeply disturbed by the alarmingly high numbers of internally displaced persons throughout the world, for reasons including armed conflict, violations of human rights and natural or human-made disasters, who receive inadequate protection and assistance, and conscious of the serious challenges that this is creating for the international community, Recognizing the significant number of persons who have become internally displaced owing to natural disasters over the course of the past twelve months, Conscious of the human rights and the humanitarian dimensions of the problem of internally displaced persons, including in long-term displacement situations, and the responsibilities of States and the international community to strengthen further their protection and assistance, Emphasizing that States have the primary responsibility to provide protection and assistance to internally displaced persons within their jurisdiction as well as to address the root causes of the displacement problem in appropriate cooperation with the international community, Noting the growing awareness of the international community of the issue of internally displaced persons worldwide and the urgency of addressing the root causes of their displacement and finding durable solutions, including voluntary return in safety and with dignity, or local integration, Recalling the relevant norms of international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international refugee law, and recognizing that the protection of internally displaced persons has been strengthened by identifying, reaffirming and consolidating specific standards for their protection, in particular through the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, 1 Emphasizing the central role of the Emergency Relief Coordinator for the inter-agency coordination of protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, and welcoming the continued initiatives taken in order to ensure better _______________ 1 05-49768 E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex.