NEED FOR EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY DISASTER-RESPONSE CAPABILITY STRESSED AS ASSEMBLY WEIGHS HUMANITARIAN, DISASTER-RELIEF ASSISTANCE

Press Release
GA/9663

NEED FOR EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY DISASTER-RESPONSE CAPABILITY STRESSED AS ASSEMBLY WEIGHS HUMANITARIAN, DISASTER-RELIEF ASSISTANCE

The spontaneous acts of fraternity and solidarity between Greek and Turkish rescue workers in the aftermath of earthquakes in both countries earlier this year had prompted them to propose an effective disaster-response capability to the global community the representative of Greece told the General Assembly this morning as he introduced a draft resolution on emergency response to disasters. The proposed unit would offer its services whenever they were needed, under the auspices of the Secretary-General, to any part of the world.

The representative of Greece went on to say that the decision of both the Greek and Turkish Governments to establish a joint Standby Disaster Response Unit, comprising contingents from governmental and non-governmental organizations and agencies from both countries, bore no financial implications for the Organization’s budget.

Turkey's representative, introducing the same text as Greece, said that natural calamities had claimed an increasing toll of human lives, and had cost the world an average $87 billion per annum during the last decade. The cost of disasters in the 1990s had been nine times higher than in the 1960s. The International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, however, had helped put the issue of prevention and disaster mitigation on to national and political agendas.

The representative of Algeria said his country shared the concern over donor selectivity that resulted in unequal distribution of resources worldwide. Africa, which had suffered most from natural and humanitarian disasters, had received less than 40 per cent of the required $800 million. As a result, serious damage could be done to African efforts at reconstruction and development. He called on the international community to support the continent’s efforts, and guarantee its peoples a chance to achieve lasting peace and economic development and revival.

A representative of Argentina, who is also Secretary of the International Humanitarian Assistance “White Helmets”, said the active participation of civil society in United Nations activities was an indispensable requirement for the success of pre- and post-disaster and post-conflict humanitarian missions. The availability of White Helmet volunteers was therefore a useful, effective and efficient tool to secure such participation. He expressed concern for the safety and security of volunteers in the field and said it was unfortunate that

General Assembly Plenary - 1a - Press Release GA/9663 58th Meeting (AM) 19 November 1999

young men and women should be targets for random and indiscriminate violence. It was incumbent on everyone to take the necessary steps to avoid the repetition of such violence.

A number of speakers also stressed the importance of security and safety of United Nations humanitarian personnel. The representative of Finland (on behalf of the European Union) said the increasing number of attacks on such personnel hindered the Organization's ability to assist civilians. As the response by host governments to various incidents was often inadequate, the United Nations must insist that governments investigate all security incidents involving its personnel. The Assembly should reinforce the call of both the Secretary-General and the Security Council to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel.

Under other matters this morning, the President of the General Assembly, Theo-Ben Gurirab, speaking on the tenth Africa Industrialization Day -- to be celebrated tomorrow, 20 November -- said that at the onset of the first Industrial Development Decade for Africa (1981-1999), one of the major challenges facing African countries was access to technology. For Africa to become a competitive partner in the global economy, concrete steps should be taken to transform the continent’s enormous natural resources into manufactured products that would satisfy the basic needs of its peoples.

He said the role of the private sector in economic development was a critical factor. Many African economies were slowly being transformed from a public-sector-driven economy into private-sector-led reconstruction and development. However, the private sector needed the support of governments to help ensure that the enabling environment in which they operated was conducive to productivity and growth. The private sector, in most cases, was extremely weak, had limited access to finance and technology, and had not quite succeeded in establishing strategic alliances with the business community in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Also this morning, the Assembly concluded its consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on "Assistance in mine action”, which it took up yesterday afternoon. The President said that a draft resolution on the issue would be submitted at a later date. (For more details see Press Release GA/9662, dated 18 November.)

Statements were also made by the representatives of the Philippines, Slovenia, New Zealand, Israel, Cambodia, Ecuador, Belarus, Nicaragua, Japan and the Republic of Korea. The observer for the Holy See also made a statement.

The Assembly will meet again at 3 p.m. to continue its consideration of the strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance.

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly meets this morning to begin consideration of the "Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance". It has before it a number of related reports and resolutions which it is expected to take action on.

Strengthening Coordination of Emergency Humanitarian Assistance of UN

Underscoring the enormous challenges of the past year, the report of the Secretary-General (document A/54/154 and Add.1), states that a striking phenomenon has been the rise in the number and scale of natural disasters, which in 1998 claimed the lives of more than 50,000 people worldwide. During the year economic losses exceeded some $90 billion, compared to $30 billion in 1997. Indications are that this increase is linked to factors such as rapid population growth and urbanization, environmental degradation, and global climatic change. Often, man-made elements exacerbated the impact of disasters, highlighting the need for intensive disaster-reduction/prevention activities as part of overall relief and development strategies.

The Secretary-General states that difficulties in responding to the numerous challenges were compounded by uneven levels of funding to consolidated appeals. Addressing measures to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian assistance, the report states that there are a number of ways in which agencies have sought to improve the environment for humanitarian action. These include: negotiation with parties to conflict over issues of access and security; reinforcement of the principles of humanitarian action and strengthening of the legal framework; and advocacy with the Security Council and other bodies. The report stresses that negotiations can be facilitated if there is acceptance among all parties.

The Secretary-General stresses that the environment for humanitarian action can also be improved through increased respect for, adherence to and application of international laws and norms relating to civilians’ rights. In addition, strengthening the protection of civilians in conflict must be supported by effective advocacy and a solid legal framework. This year, the focus has been on three parallel approaches: promoting respect for existing international humanitarian law; promoting the establishment of the International Criminal Court; and engaging the Security Council in efforts to identify innovative ways in which it can strengthen its capacity to ensure the protection of civilians in conflict.

The report states that enhancing humanitarian response through effective coordination has been a major priority of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) during 1998. This work includes: effective early warning and preparedness; and strategic planning, including strengthening of the consolidated appeal process. While significant progress has been made in strengthening the appeal process, less has been made in efforts to translate it and related common humanitarian action plans into more effective prioritization of programmes.

Part of the difficulty, continues the report, has been with the disjuncture between timing of the preparation of the process and the agency planning cycles. This is being addressed in 1999 by an early start to the appeal process planning cycle. In the context of constraints on financial resources, real prioritization of programmes with agreed common objectives will be a major focus for the IASC in 1999.

The Secretary-General says that efforts to coordinate the response of the Organization's system have included the launching of three major United Nations inter-agency appeals -- Hurricane Mitch and the Bangladesh and China floods. A total of 17 United Nations disaster assessment and coordination teams were fielded during the year, situation reports on over 60 natural disasters were disseminated, 28 international appeals were launched, and over $1 billion in response aid were recorded. While international disaster-response mechanisms have proved their worth, areas requiring improvement are response preparedness and capacity-building, access to resources for emergency relief, and more effective bridging of the gap between emergency relief and early recovery.

A recently established inter-agency reference group on natural disasters is working on a set of recommendations on the strengthening of the mechanism of response to natural disasters, the Secretary-General goes on to say. The report examines a number of other issues, including policy coordination through the IASC; administrative matters; and international cooperation and coordination in response to humanitarian emergencies, particularly in the transition from relief to rehabilitation, reconstruction and development. Addressing the issue of financing transitions in natural disasters, the Secretary-General says it is essential that the process of developing a comprehensive package on the part of lending institutions be revitalized.

Donor countries should make every effort to harmonize the procedures for the release of both emergency and reconstruction funds, says the report. Funds for reconstruction should be made available or pledged substantially sooner and with significantly fewer onerous procedures than is currently the case. Donor countries should also explore the possibilities of establishing funding mechanisms specifically tailored to rehabilitation needs. The Secretary-General says the central challenge for the Organization is to make effective use of the new structures and tools available to address transitions from relief to development in complex crises, and to develop strong linkages between them.

The Secretary-General says that while aid agencies poured human and financial resources into the Balkans in response to the needs of refugees, the airlift of vital food aid in Angola was threatened with disruption for security reasons and by lack of funds. International media attention on Kosovo helped ensure essential relief for people fleeing the conflict. However, the response to consolidated appeals for almost all other humanitarian emergencies was still substantially below expectations.

According to the report, Angola and Kosovo raised other serious issues. They included: questions of access by humanitarian agencies to conflict zones; the impartiality and independence of humanitarian aid; the definition of the lead agency and coordination functions in certain types of complex crises; and the role of the military in support of humanitarian operations. Angola and Kosovo illustrated the significance of the humanitarian imperative -- to respond to human suffering, whatever its cause. Violations of international humanitarian law also demanded accelerated efforts to introduce an effective criminal court to deal with the cycle of impunity.

In conclusion, the Secretary-General states that the challenge now is for the Organization to work with non-United Nations partners to establish ways of ensuring that the integrated and strategic approach embraces all stakeholders under the leadership of the national government. However, such achievements will be of limited value if Member States are not able to make corresponding progress in providing appropriate political and financial support for those efforts.

The addendum to the report provides updated information related to the safety and security of the United Nations and humanitarian personnel. It states that the Secretary-General will produce a comprehensive and thorough set of recommendations in his report to the fifty-fifth session of the Assembly. The present addendum therefore merely addresses the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, and the status of the Trust Fund for Security of Personnel of the United Nations system

Draft Resolution on Emergency Response to Disasters

By the terms of a 102-Power draft resolution (document A/54/L.17/Rev.1), the Assembly would express its solidarity with the governments and peoples of Greece and Turkey as they cope with the consequences of recent earthquakes. It would also express appreciation to all entities providing emergency relief to the affected areas. The Assembly would note with satisfaction the decision by the Greek and Turkish Governments to establish a joint Standby Disaster Response Unit to reinforce and expand existing standby arrangements of the United Nations, with no financial implication to the Organization's programme budget. It would also ask the Secretary-General, through the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), to formulate the modalities for the utilization of the Standby Disaster Response Unit by the relevant agencies of the United Nations.

Special Economic Assistance to Individual Countries or Regions

Progress made in the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts of Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

According to the report of the Secretary-General (document A/54/129/Rev.1), hurricane Georges struck Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Kitts and Nevis on 20 and 21 September, the Dominican Republic on 22 September, and Haiti on 23 September, and severely damaged the eastern provinces of Cuba which were just beginning to recover from the prolonged drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon.

Describing the overall United Nations response to the disasters, the report states that the Organization's resident coordinators and disaster management teams, together with the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator/ OCHA, had responded by such steps as issuing situation reports to highlight unmet emergency requirements in order to mobilize international assistance and sum up international response; channelling cash contributions for relief and immediate rehabilitation; deploying United Nations disaster assessment and coordination teams to assist the resident coordinators in the Dominican Republic and Haiti; and facilitating shipments of emergency relief supplies to some of the affected countries.

In all cases, continues the report, resident coordinators played a key role in coordinating the international assistance provided and in designing rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes. In many cases, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the country team were also instrumental in heightening the importance of disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation, for which purpose, long-term national capacity-building programmes are being designed or conducted or both. The report then details situations in the affected countries, other international responses to the disasters, progress in rehabilitation and actions by the United Nations system.

Collaborative Efforts to Assist Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama

The report of the Secretary-General on the collaborative efforts to assist Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama and on progress made with the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts of the affected countries (document A/54/130) details progress made with the rehabilitation efforts of the countries hit by tropical storm Mitch on 24 October 1998. The effects of Hurricane Mitch were aggravated by large-scale deforestation and cultivation of marginal lands without proper soil conservation. Initial response of the United Nations and its specialized agencies played a crucial role in ensuring immediate assistance to the affected areas. A mission was also carried out during January and February 1999, to assess the contribution of the United Nations system to the emergency response, to identify additional resources required by the United Nations country teams, and to propose ways of integrating disaster-reduction components in the national reconstruction and transformation plans.

According to the report, a workshop held in February in Santo Domingo to examine the lessons learned from Hurricanes Georges and Mitch, concluded that contingency plans should be formulated at both the community and national levels, guidelines and policies should use easily understandable language, and strategies to mitigate disasters and reduce environmental vulnerability should be incorporated into development projects. Moreover, the report continues, journalists should be trained to help avoid the dissemination of incorrect information during and after disasters. In addition to that, an Inter-Agency Technical Committee providing technical assistance to the regional integration system was organized to assess environmental risk and vulnerability in the region, and to prepare a regional strategy for development along more sustainable and less vulnerable lines.

Assistance for Reconstruction and Development of Djibouti

The report of the Secretary-General on assistance for the reconstruction and development of Djibouti (document A/54/153) states that since the peace accord, reconstruction and development have been under way but slow. The social reintegration of the demobilized soldiers and their socio-economic reinsertion remain priorities for the country. Social infrastructures, such as hospitals, schools and water points, have to be reconstructed so that the displaced population can be resettled. Moreover, development activities need to be initiated in support of primary health care, primary schools and income generation. Environmental problems related to desertification are very serious, since they have been exacerbated by urban and rural poverty, which is both a cause and an effect of environmental degradation. Technical and vocational training is very limited, and there is a need for new policy ideas in education and employment. In that regard, the country receives technical and financial support from the World Bank through a social fund, a mechanism aimed at tackling the social consequences of structural adjustments and at alleviating poverty.

According to the report, there is a close cooperation among the United Nations agencies, with an increasing focus on social development. United Nations activities in Djibouti currently concentrate on health, food security, rehabilitation and reconstruction, environmental issues and capacity-building, refugee repatriation, governance, gender mainstreaming, and integration of non-governmental organizations and the civil society in development.

Special Measures for Economic Recovery and Reconstruction of Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Secretary-General's report (document A/54/278), describes the financial and material assistance provided by the United Nations system to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in its economic recovery and reconstruction process. The impact of war has been catastrophic in economic terms, including damage to infrastructure of some hundreds of millions of dollars, suspension of foreign debt payments, a loss of monetary stability and a three-figure cumulative rate of inflation. The situation has aggravated problems relating to governance, for which major challenges include establishing a favourable climate for the electoral process and democratic institutions, capacity-building and reform of the judiciary. Also, the Secretary-General reports that the Democratic Republic of the Congo has 47 per cent of Africa's tropical forests, and 6 per cent of the world's reserves. Much of the country's wildlife parks and flora were severely damaged between 1994 and 1997. Also, there is weak capacity to analyse and formulate strategies and policies, shortage of equipment, inadequate public finances management and comprehensive lack of reliable statistical information.

The Government and the United Nations system are in agreement with regard to recovery and reconstruction needs, the Secretary-General reports. The entire United Nations system operating in Kinshasa has agreed to harmonize its cooperation programmes, whose execution is to coincide with the Government's Triennial Minimum Programme. The process of elaborating a common country assessment for the Democratic Republic of the Congo is under way and should culminate in a strategy note. The entire United Nations system in Kinshasa has intervened at various levels, each agency in its respective sphere of activity, by incorporating the emergency humanitarian activities necessitated by the crisis in traditional programmes.

First and foremost, according to the Secretary-General, it is essential to find a solution to the problems currently impeding the reconstruction of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country with tremendous potential. Establishing a framework of peace and reconciliation is a sine qua non for the creation of an environment conducive to rehabilitation and the resumption of human development. Any activities in that regard must reflect the will of political decision-makers to strengthen the peace process; the UNDP would further that aim by supplying material and technical support to the various bodies created to sustain it.

Assistance should be provided to the Government for the preparation of a development strategy, which should include the following elements: financial, stabilization, reform, reconstruction and development. Donors have stressed the need for a medium-term structural reform programme, credible measures to attract support from economic agents and donors, improved definition of priorities, improved role-sharing by the various actors, improvement of conditions in the private sector and efforts to find a solution to the problem of external debt. The Government must do its utmost to prepare the programme immediately with a view to facilitating its implementation as soon as the minimum conditions for peace and security have been established.

Once those minimum conditions have been established, the Government should hold discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank as a prerequisite for an effective resumption of structural cooperation with the international community. First and foremost, an agreement should be reached to stabilize payment arrears owed to the IMF. Such an agreement would send an important signal in the resumption of the macroeconomic dialogue. The new framework should also allow the Democratic Republic of the Congo to find a lasting solution to the problem of its external debt, in particular through the development of a programme which would allow it to benefit from the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Debt Initiative.

Emergency International Assistance for Peace, Normalcy and Rehabilitation in Tajikistan

The Secretary-General's report (document A/54/294) states that although full implementation of the 1997 General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan was more than eight months behind schedule, notable progress in the peace process had been made in the second quarter of 1999, when a number of outstanding problems were resolved (document A/54/294). However, despite the lessening of tensions, the security situation remained volatile as hostilities erupted in previously quiet areas while political killings persisted.

The report concludes that significant humanitarian needs continue to exist throughout Tajikistan, and that, two years after the end of the civil war, hundreds of thousands of Tajiks continue to rely on international assistance to meet their basic needs. The United Nations will re-evaluate the humanitarian assistance activities after parliamentary elections tentatively scheduled for the first half of 2000, with a view to addressing longer-term development issues.

Emergency Assistance to Sudan

Reporting on emergency assistance to the Sudan (document A/54/295) from August 1998 to July 1999, the Secretary-General states that Southern Sudan faced its most serious crisis in 10 years during the second half of 1998. An unknown number of people had died during the severe hunger that gripped the region, and the worst flooding in several decades occurred in the same period. In recognition of the magnitude of the problem, the Sudanese Government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement offered a ceasefire to allow humanitarian efforts to reach the worst affected areas.

Unprecedented levels of donor support had helped to contain the worst effects of the 1998 humanitarian crisis, although a ban on Operation Lifeline Sudan flights in certain areas because of a resurgence of fighting had exacerbated the situation, the report continues.

It concludes that Operation Sudan Lifeline remained the only viable instrument for humanitarian policy in the Sudan, and it was therefore imperative that the underlying principles and instruments defining cooperation must be respected by all parties.

Report on Assistance for Somalia

The Secretary-General's report on assistance for Somalia (document A/54/296) reviews the current situation in that country and outlines humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance provided by the United Nations and its partners from August 1998 to July 1999. The report states that Somalia remains one of the poorest countries in the world, and internal armed conflict and natural disasters continue to blight the population. That is a significant obstacle to the provision of humanitarian assistance, particularly in the urban areas of Mogadishu, Kismayo and Baidoa, and much of rural central and southern Somalia. However, in spite of security threats and rising distribution costs caused by clan boundaries, check points and mines, the agencies of the Organization and their humanitarian partners have been able to gain intermittent access to a significant proportion of the most affected areas.

The report states that in north-eastern Somalia, although the influx of returnees has stretched the limited resources of the zone, the agencies also bring expertise needed in different areas of the economy. The local economy is based on three main sectors: livestock trade, fisheries, and revenues from the port of Bossaso. Limited rainfall and the recent lifting of the livestock ban by Saudi Arabia have reduced some of the stress on pastoral communities, though there is still considerable need for rehabilitation and disaster preparedness. The North-western region of Somalia is relatively stable, therefore international interventions and support are mainly aimed at rehabilitation and development. Consequently, the Organization has undertaken a systematic, holistic and prioritized approach to address the crisis in South and Central Somalia while it meets the rehabilitation needs of the North.

The report says that prospects for support to the North are more favourable since there are more international actors and stronger local administrative structures able to take responsibility for humanitarian needs. Donors therefore give longer-term investments for socio-economic and governance capacity-building. Although sudden humanitarian emergencies in Somalia have been met by a substantial response from the donor community, the decline in general donor support has resulted in the loss of operational capacity. A consolidated appeal by the Organization for 1999 had been met by an inadequate response, and that may seriously weaken the Organization's agencies to provide a timely and effective response to humanitarian crises.

International Assistance to and Cooperation with Alliance for Sustainable Development of Central America (ALIDES)

The report of the Secretary-General (document A/54/350) makes reference to efforts over the past 10 months by Central American governments and people to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Mitch, and to utilize the reconstruction process as an opportunity to renew attention to the achievement of the objectives of ALIDES, and to galvanize more support for national efforts to make the region a zone of peace, freedom, democracy and development.

The report highlights: the macroeconomic framework; cooperation activities -– particularly at the subregional level; peace and democratic governance, including support for consensus building, strengthening of democratic institutions, and mine clearance; socio-economic development, including sustainable development, agricultural development, health and nutrition, public finance and economic growth; reduction of environmental vulnerability; and institutional aspects and management capacity.

Special Assistance to Central and East African Countries Receiving Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons

The report of the Secretary-General (document A/54/421) describes the activities of the United Nations and other organizations involved in special assistance to Central and East African countries: hosting refugees, returnees and displaced persons, with particular reference to women and children, security, access to populations in need, and the environment. It also focuses on the main activities undertaken in areas where large numbers of refugees have repatriated. Activities essentially consisted of providing emergency relief and assistance to thousands of refugees fleeing conflicts in the region. They were undertaken in Burundi, Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Congo, the Central African Republic, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.

In close collaboration, United Nations agencies together with international and local non-governmental organizations strove to meet the needs of refugees, returnees and other displaced persons, as well as to lessen the political and socio-economic impact of forced population movements. However, in addition to providing settlement areas, host States assume responsibility for ensuring security of the affected populations. Emergency preparedness has also been a key concern for all the agencies, and joint contingency planning has been taking place regularly. The report states that, as in prior years, funding remains a great concern. The multiplication of smaller conflicts, with movement of refugees and displaced persons affecting a number of countries, poses particular challenges. Given continuing instability in the region, providing adequate protection and assistance for uprooted populations will continue to be given high priority by the United Nations system.

Assistance for Reconstruction and Development of El Salvador

The Secretary-General’s report on assistance for the reconstruction and development of El Salvador (document A/54/462) states that the country made a significant political and social pact to promote the renewal and democratization of State institutions and to start building a democratic State under the rule of law. Progress had been made in the political sector through the Chapultepec Peace Agreements, which paved the way for the building of a democratic State, and in the economic area through the structural adjustment programme which made it possible, among other things, to liberalize some sectors. However, structural poverty, which originates in the socio-economic marginalization of large groups and is expressed through low coverage of basic services, still represents a problem. As for democratic institutions, the concern of human rights remains alive in Salvadoran society. Moreover, despite progress made in the judicial system, public security and the electoral system, those sectors still require strengthening.

The UNDP is monitoring specific issues, including the land transfer programme, the rural settlements programme, the Fund for the Protection of the Wounded and War Disabled, and the transfer of lands in excess of the constitutional limit of 245 hectares. However, the monitoring and follow-up process for the four pending issues has been a slow one and has been limited by a series of crucial factors, including the fact that the Peace Agreements require social and political structural changes. Moreover, the UNDP institutional strategy provides for intervention in two major areas, such as local development and democratic governance. According to the report, assistance to programmes and projects arising out of the Peace Agreements has fallen considerably, and technical and financial cooperation are still needed.

Economic Assistance to States Affected by Implementation of Security Council Resolutions Imposing Sanctions on Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

The report of the Secretary-General (document A/54/534) states that following the termination of economic sanctions imposed on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the burden of the sanctions regime on neighbouring and other States affected by the side-effects of the sanctions regime was considerably eased. With the support of the international community, the affected countries have embarked on a difficult transition to socio-economic recovery and development, including special efforts to fully overcome the consequences of sanctions. However, apart from the ensuing problems of the transition period, the Kosovo crisis had an overwhelming impact on the fragile economies of the neighbouring countries in South-East Europe and beyond.

As a result, continues the report, several of the most seriously affected countries of the region and the international donor community have been confronted with new and greater challenges of coping with humanitarian emergency and post-conflict reconstruction, rehabilitation and stabilization in the Balkans. Recent assessments indicate that the affected countries of South-Eastern Europe continue to face multi-faceted adjustment problems stemming from a decade-long string of external economic shocks, including the terminated sanctions regime. It is essential that all these problems be effectively addressed in the context of the ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation effort. The report goes on to say that the United Nations system, including the international financial institutions, continues to implement existing facilities and available resources and substantial programmes of financial and technical assistance in the affected countries.

In response to renewed appeals for special economic assistance, these programmes have been reviewed as appropriate to take account of the special needs of the affected States during the transition period following the lifting of sanctions. Although the bulk of such activities were not specifically and directly related to the consequences of sanctions, they have contributed to socio-economic recovery in the affected countries, thus indirectly offsetting many of their special economic problems resulting from sanctions. In the aftermath of the Kosovo crisis, new and additional financial resources from all potential sources are urgently needed to address a variety of persistent socio- economic problems of the neighbouring and other affected States.

Draft Resolution: International Assistance to and Cooperation with Alliance for Sustainable Development of Central America

By the terms of a nine-Power draft (document A/54/L.29), the Assembly would emphasize the importance of supporting and strengthening the efforts of Central American countries to implement the strategic framework for the reduction of vulnerability to and the impact of natural disasters in Central America, in accordance with the process of transformation and sustainable development for the region for the next millennium. That process contains basic guidelines for the prevention and mitigation of damage, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable groups and sectors, as identified by gender-based levels of poverty and marginality. It would also emphasize the importance of supporting and strengthening the efforts of Central American countries to implement the projects and programmes of the Quinquennium for the Reduction of Vulnerability to and Impact of Natural Disasters in the same context.

The Assembly would stress the importance of international economic, financial and technical cooperation and assistance in supporting the efforts of Central American governments to implement the programme for the sustainable development of the region. It would again stress the need for the international community to maintain its cooperation with Central American countries and to provide them with the necessary financial resources, in a sustained manner and on soft terms, to promote sustainable human development and the consolidation of peace, freedom and democracy in the region. The Assembly would ask the Secretary-General, the United Nations system and all other related entities to continue providing the support needed to attain the objectives of the programmes for the sustainable development of Central America, in particular those pursued within the framework of the Quinquennium for the Reduction of Vulnerability to and the Impact of Natural Disasters in Central America.

Strengthening of International Cooperation and Coordination of Efforts to Study, Mitigate and Minimize the Consequences of Chernobyl Disaster

The Secretary-General's report on action to study, mitigate and minimize the effects of the Chernobyl disaster (document A/54/449) states that the Organization's programmes to address the human consequences of the disaster have been chronically underfunded, and are still very acute in certain sections of the affected population. Significant needs remain in the areas of health and the environment in the three countries -- Belarus, Russian Federation and Ukraine -- affected by the accident. The most pressing are in psycho-social rehabilitation, especially for children, and housing for the liquidators. It is also imperative to bolster the economic recovery of the countries by encouraging local industries to produce healthful products, to control their radiation levels and to address the issue of environmental decontamination.

Regarding coordination, advocacy and resource mobilization, the report says that during 1998 to 1999 less than $677,000 was channelled through the Chernobyl Trust Fund to support various programmes. At the moment, the Trust Fund has a balance of $170,000. The report points out that the Chernobyl accident is hard to classify, since it is neither a traditional emergency nor a developmental issue. Therefore, budgetary constraints are faced by some donor States as Chernobyl falls into a budgetary gap. Another factor that States might consider is whether health, environment, social and economic hardships are the results solely of Chernobyl. Among the Organization's programmes to address the effects are a proposal by the UNDP Office in Moscow to decontaminate the Russian forests. Also, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has given priority to the mitigating consequences of the accident, and is addressing relevant issues including managing radioactive waste, the management and inspection capacity in the nuclear plants, and radiation protection.

The report states that the radiological conditions in the surrounding area have improved. That was attributable to the international commitment to improved nuclear safety at Chernobyl, which allowed for the construction and reinforcement of a shelter over the affected unit. The Group of Seven industrialized countries expects to complete rehabilitating the site in 2007. It further notes that a contribution from donor countries, comprising less than 5 per cent of the amount pledged for the shelter, would enable the Organization to address outstanding needs and encourage local planning for the future of the most affected region.

Draft Resolution

By the terms of a 13-Power draft resolution (document A/54/L.22) the Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to continue his efforts in the implementation of relevant Assembly resolutions and, through existing coordination mechanisms, in particular the United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl, to continue to maintain close cooperation with the agencies of the United Nations, as well as other relevant organizations, to encourage the regular exchange of information, cooperation and coordination of multilateral and bilateral efforts in those areas, while implementing programmes and specific projects, in the framework of relevant agreements and arrangements.

By the text, the Assembly would invite States, in particular donor States, relevant multilateral financial institutions and other concerned parties of the international community, including non-governmental organizations, to continue providing support to the ongoing efforts by Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, to promote the inter-agency programme of international assistance to areas affected by the Chernobyl disaster. It would underline the necessity of paying special attention to the United Nations Appeal for International Cooperation on Chernobyl of May 1999 which includes nine of the most acute projects of the inter-agency programme, in particular the establishment of children's rehabilitation centres, screening of children for early diagnostics of thyroid pathology, and development of measures to reduce the risk of adverse health effects in the population in the most affected regions.

The Assembly would urge the United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl to continue his efforts to strengthen international cooperation to overcome health, socio-economic and ecological consequences of the Chernobyl disaster in the most affected areas of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, based on the inter-agency programme of international assistance to areas affected by the disaster. It would also call upon the Secretary-General to continue the regular exchange of information with the countries concerned, relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations, to enhance world awareness of the consequences of such disasters.

“White Helmets" Initiative

According to the Secretary-General's report (document A/54/217) the "White Helmets" initiative established by Argentina with the aim of promoting the concept of pre-identified, standby and trained teams of volunteers, was highly appreciated by recipients, country offices, individuals and organizations. A number of successful activities had been carried by the White Helmets Commission/United Nations Volunteers (UNV) in various countries, including the introduction of low-cost dwellings in Rwanda and the Balkans and promoting sports as a vehicle for social development in the autonomous areas of the occupied Palestinian territory and Lebanon.

The report concludes that findings from a White Helmets Commission/UNV review indicated that a number of States wanted to create and strengthen their volunteer capacities in support of the White Helmets initiative. This team of volunteers could be made available to the United Nations through UNV programmes in support of immediate relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development activities. The Secretary-General hopes that additional financial contributions to the special financial window of UNV can be mobilized.

Assistance to Palestinian People

The report of the Secretary-General (document A/54/134) covers the assistance activities to the Palestinians for the period from June 1998 through May 1999.

The report states that throughout the period under review, the Special Coordinator in the occupied territories maintained efforts to fulfil the mandate of his office, and focused on continuing preoccupations relating to facilitating the socio-economic development of the occupied Palestinian territory by such means as ensuring better coordination between relevant institutions of the Palestinian Authority and United Nations agencies and the donor community; strengthening the rule of law and other institution-building programmes; monitoring and documenting socio-economic conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory; providing logistic and other assistance to the Palestinian Authority; and encouraging expeditious donor disbursement to facilitate the implementation of the Palestinian Development Plan (1999-2003).

The report states that the United Nations presence in the occupied Palestinian territory has increased from three organizations in 1993 to 13 in 1999. An additional 16 organizations of the United Nations systems are providing the Palestinian Authority with technical assistance and expertise. On 30 November 1998, the Conference to support Middle East Peace and Development, held in Washington D.C., resulted in pledges totalling $3.36 billion to be disbursed over a two five-year period.

The report also covers: work of local and international coordination mechanisms; living conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories; assistance to the Palestinian peoples; ongoing programmes, unmet needs and proposals for additional assistance.

THEO-BEN GURIRAB, President of the General Assembly, speaking on the tenth Africa Industrialization Day -- to be celebrated tomorrow, 20 November -- said that at the onset of the first Industrial Development Decade for Africa (1981-1999), industry in Africa was in a precarious state, with very little flow of foreign direct investments to the industrial sector. Today, after years of decline in manufacturing output, basic industries were slowly being revitalized. However, Africa had yet to define workable policies and structures to meet the demands of the changing global business environment. At the same time, there were opportunities for African countries to establish meaningful alliances with other countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

However, one of the major challenges facing the African countries was access to technology, in particular information technology, to impact on policy development, determine products for markets, and improve industrial competitiveness. For Africa to become a competitive partner in the global economy, concrete steps should be taken to transform the continent’s enormous natural resources into manufactured products that would satisfy the basic needs of its peoples. In that regard, African countries, with the support of development partners, should redouble their efforts in developing small and medium enterprises.

The role of the private sector in economic development was a critical factor, he said. Many African economies were slowly being transformed from a public-sector-driven economy into private-sector-led reconstruction and development. However, the private sector needed the support of governments to help ensure that the enabling environment in which they operated was conducive to productivity and growth. In addition, governments should support research and development aimed at adding value to natural resources, especially agricultural raw materials. The private sector, in most cases, was extremely weak, had limited access to finance and technology, and had not quite succeeded in establishing strategic alliances with the business community in Europe, Asia and the Americas. However, governments and the international community had taken many initiatives at the country level to strengthen the private sector's resource base and capacity to participate effectively in the industrial development process of the continent.

The theme chosen to herald the Millennium, he continued, succinctly summarized the efforts of African countries throughout this century, and gave a meaningful assessment of Africa's priority needs. The theme “From farm to factory for a better future” embodied the belief that Africa, with its abundance of diverse agricultural resources, could simultaneously improve agricultural productivity and increase utilization of its manufacturing capacity for food security. In that connection, the organizations of the United Nations system must work closely in helping Africa to produce agricultural raw materials on a sustainable basis. They should also assist African countries in processing such raw materials at the national and subregional levels to ensure a stable source of income for the majority of the farming communities in Africa and provide employment for both the rural and urban populations at the factory level. Finally, he said he was confident that the international community would step up its support for Africa in the coming millennium -- in particular by helping the continent to deal with the problem of debt cancellation.

FELIPE MABILANGAN (Philippines) said that his country had abandoned the use of landmines and, today, it was no longer categorized by the United Nations as a mine-affected area. Agriculture had been an important part of the Philippine economy and national survival. In the longer term, however, the presence of landmines or the fear that landmines might still be present would have ensured that many agricultural lands remained untilled and unused. However, in renouncing the use of landmines, the Philippines had been determined to see the Ottawa Convention through. Moreover, his country had hosted a number of regional mine-action meetings, several of which had been conducted in cooperation with non-governmental organizations. Those organizations had been indispensable in facing the challenges of mine action.

The United Nations played a pivotal role in the field of humanitarian mine action worldwide. Its response to the mine problem had been swift and meaningful. However, mine action should not be undertaken solely within the framework of peacekeeping but in a broader humanitarian framework. Noting that mine clearance had been an unavoidable part of peacekeeping activities, he said that mine action could and often did outlast peacekeeping activities, and the fact that the transition in such cases had been successful and effective was welcome.

He stated that technology had been an important factor in efforts to address the mine problem. He expressed the hope that in developing the technology that could neutralize the deadly effect of landmines, there would not be any attempts to make landmines that could overcome that technology. In that regard, technology should always be a blessing and not a curse.

DANILO TÜRK (Slovenia) said peace could not be sustained and development could not thrive in an atmosphere where an explosion could injure anyone at any time. It was therefore important to give priority to the provision of international instruments for the destruction of landmines. Slovenia was deeply committed to the objectives of international mine action, and had set up the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through joint efforts and donations from other Member States, it had managed to clear more than 2.5 million square metres of contaminated areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina and rehabilitated more than 200 mine victims.

The International Trust Fund, he said, had also been involved in mine action in Kosovo and Croatia, and its operations were action-oriented with minimum administrative costs. He concluded that every Member State could provide practical assistance in mine action through political support and awareness-raising.

ANA MARIA RAMIREZ (Argentina) said the devastating impact of landmines on populations and their livelihoods, particularly when useful lands were affected, was a social and economic problem that could not be ignored. Consequently, Argentina attached special importance to mine clearance, and its armed forces were actively engaged in those activities. Since 1993, Argentina had provided assistance to Nicaragua for mine clearance. Again in 1997, that country had participated in programmes in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Honduras and had also assisted in Angola. In December 1993, the Government had proposed to the United Kingdom that Argentina take charge of the removal of landmines laid in the Malvinas during the conflict there in 1982. That offer had been accepted, and presently both Governments were exchanging ideas on procedures to be followed in that undertaking.

She said that there was a centre for training and education in demining activities in Argentina that provided instruction for both Argentinians and foreigners. Argentina’s determination had been evident even before the Ottawa Convention: in 1995, it had established a moratorium on the manufacture, sale and stockpiling of landmines.

TREVOR HUGHES (New Zealand) deplored the laying of new mines in Angola this year when hostilities resumed between the Government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). New Zealand had a long-standing involvement in mine action efforts in Angola, and was disheartened to see the United Nations mine action efforts reduced and shut down after so much work.

On a more positive note, he welcomed the outcome of the First Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Convention in Maputo in May this year. He said that over the past year the momentum behind the Ottawa process had continued, and this was due to the strength and diversity of its advocates who comprised governments, non-governmental agencies and the ordinary man or woman in the street. He paid tribute to the United Nations Mine Action Service for its hard work in the past year and the key role it played in the speedy establishment of the Kosovo Mine Action Coordination Centre.

He concluded that, given the extent of the challenges facing countries with mined territories, mine action programmes must be sustainable: it was imperative to encourage countries to develop their own national programmes. The impressive Accelerated Demining Programme in Mozambique testified to the effectiveness of locally run programmes.

AARON JACOB (Israel) said that the most important theme in the effort against the devastation of anti-personnel landmines was cooperation. In that context, the report of the Secretary-General on Assistance in Mine Action reaffirmed that action by individual States alone could no longer quell the humanitarian threat posed by anti-personnel landmines. It should be emphasized that landmines were creatures of context, since they were born in an atmosphere of terror and threats, just as they were weakened in the context of cooperation and goodwill between States. In that context, Israel and Jordan had launched a large-scale project to demine the Jordan Valley, which was still infested with anti-personnel landmines. On the heels of that combined effort, a broader cooperative venture had been launched, including help given by Canada and Norway by sending their resources and expertise to the Jordan Valley.

An effort to educate the population on mines was necessary, he said. To that end, Israel and other nations had taken an active role in the Mine Awareness Project of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Angola. Israeli volunteers and those of other nations had worked to educate the population, treat victims, and set up a special database.

SUN SUON (Cambodia) said that landmines still posed a serious threat to more than 60 countries worldwide at the present stage. Nearly a third of the world's nations were, to some extent, contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance. Among the States most severely affected were least developed countries struggling to provide their societies with even the most basic means. He reviewed his country's efforts in struggling against landmines, including the establishment of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre. Thanks to the constant and generous assistance of the world community, the Cambodian Mine Action Centre had been able to work to reduce that immense problem through the use of new technologies and improved methods and demining equipment.

He said there was also an indication that 23 per cent of land thought to be mined throughout the country had been cleared. However, it was believed that the number of mines still active in rural areas of the country varied from 4 million to 6 million, not to mention unexploded ordnance from previous conflicts. In that regard, he recalled his country's strategies for addressing the mine problem as a priority in Cambodia's overall programme of rehabilitation and development.

MARIO ALEMAN (Ecuador) said his country had shouldered the responsibilities assumed under the Ottawa Convention by setting up a Demining Centre to provide humanitarian assistance to mine victims and to coordinate the work of the various organizations involved in mine action activities to make use of international assistance in better ways.

Ecuador, he continued, attached much importance to the Ottawa process, because it aimed to strengthen international laws pertaining to the prevention of armed conflicts, eliminate anti-personnel mines and foster peace. For example, it had been working with Peru towards successful completion of the first phase of a Joint Demining Programme. He thanked States and organizations which had given the programme financial and other forms of support.

RENATO R. MARTINO, Observer for the Holy See, said it was an unbelievable and inhuman paradox that mines were still being laid, even in places from which they had already been cleared. The Ottawa Convention obliged States parties to clear mines laid on their territories -– only then would the people who lived in those areas be free to live without fear of injury or death, and without fear for the future of their children. Many of those countries would continue to need financial help for many years to conduct mine-clearance activities.

He added that mine clearance was also an effective step towards the integral social and economic development of afflicted countries. Consequently, funding for that activity must remain an important part of aid and development programmes of both donor and afflicted States. Assistance to mine victims was another essential step on the path to a peaceful world. The humanitarian orientation of the Convention must assure that priority remained in the public conscience. Those victims, many of whom were children, had very special long- term needs that must be met. Also, countries that had been torn apart by conflict had been unable to provide the basic health care needs of those affected.

Many other questions remained open, he continued, including the production, stockpiling and trafficking of landmines, as well as their destruction. As long as mines were being produced and stockpiled, there was risk of their use. Also, the problem of illegal trade in landmines posed a further threat.

Introduction of Draft Resolution

ELIAS GOUNARIS (Greece) introduced draft resolution A/54/L.17/Rev.1 entitled “emergency response to disasters”. He said the spontaneous acts of fraternity and solidarity between Greek and Turkish rescue workers in the aftermath of the earthquakes in both countries earlier this year had prompted them to propose an effective disaster-response capability to the global community. The decision of both Governments to establish a joint Standby Disaster Response Unit, comprising contingents from governmental and non- governmental organizations and agencies from both countries, to reinforce and expand existing arrangements of the United Nations, bore no financial implications for the Organization’s budget. The Unit would offer its services whenever they were needed, under the auspices of the Secretary-General, in any part of the world.

He said the resolution had met with wide and unprecedented support by the United Nations community, and had been welcomed as fully complying with and promoting the purposes and principles of the Charter. During the year, he continued, unprecedented natural disasters had affected many parts of the world. Countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Turkey, Greece, Mexico and Taiwan had suffered the loss of thousands of human lives. Just seven days ago, Turkey had been struck for the second time by an earthquake, and Greek search and medical workers, along with their equipment, had been among the first to arrive there last Saturday.

SAFAK GÖKTÜRK (Turkey) also made an introductory statement on draft resolution A/54/L.17/Rev.1. Natural calamities, he said, had claimed an increasing toll of human lives, and had cost the world an average of $87 billion per year during the last decade. The cost of disasters in the 1990s had been nine times higher than in the 1960s. The International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction had helped put the issue of prevention and disaster mitigation on national and political agendas.

The Secretary-General, in his annual report on the work of the Organization, had described the year 1998 as the worst on record for weather- related natural disasters. But 1999 would go into the annals of history as the year characterized by a string of earthquakes along the fault lines of the globe, earthquakes that were almost unprecedented in their magnitude and frequency.

He said that in the aftermath of the massive earthquake in Turkey last August, and one month later in Greece, the prompt mobilitazion of rescue teams and aid units by the two countries had inspired the Foreign Ministers of Turkey and Greece to offer the world community an effective disaster-response capability. The two countries had therefore decided to establish a joint Standby Disaster Response Unit, comprising contingents from both Greek and Turkish governmental and non-governmental agencies, to reinforce and expand existing standby arrangements of the United Nations system. He added that Israel and Georgia had now joined the co-sponsors of the draft text.

ALYAKSANDR SYCHOV (Belarus) introduced the draft resolution entitled “strengthening of the international cooperation and coordination of efforts to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster”. He said his country remained anxious over the continuing radiation effects on lives and public health of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, even though the most crucial stages of activities aimed at resolving its consequences had passed. Experts had warned that the highest level of sickness was yet to come.

During the last few years, the population structure had changed drastically, which had resulted in social and economic degradation of the vast affected areas. This had forced the Government to take appropriate measures, at a significant cost amounting to 10 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP). Since 1986, he continued, the Government had managed to relocate the population from the contaminated areas to safer territories, and had conducted medical examination of the affected population.

But, he warned, Belarus could not solve its huge post-Chernobyl problems on its own, because the demand for resources to tackle them far exceeded its financial and technological capabilities. He expressed appreciation for the help given to his country by OCHA, but he was concerned that shortage of resources had further delayed the implementation of the Inter-Agency Programme, which had received only 2 per cent of the necessary financial resources. He felt this absence of resources was due to a lack of clear understanding by donor countries that the assistance given to Belarus, Ukraine and the Russian Federation in the wake of Chernobyl was different from the assistance needed to ensure radioactive safety of the still-active Chernobyl plant. He suggested that a special international meeting for financial support of international Chernobyl-related projects could help alleviate the problem of lack of funds.

He ended by saying that since the publication of the draft resolution, India, Latvia, China and Georgia had become co-sponsors. He hoped the draft would be adopted without a vote, as in previous years.

MARIO H. CASTELLON DUARTE (Nicaragua) introduced the draft text entitled “International assistance to and cooperation with the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America”. He stated that, during the past two years, important events occurring in Central America had been of particular interest to the international community, because they had involved peace- building and development issues. The donor community, including international financial agencies, had implemented a new programme called the Alliance for Sustainable Development that possessed components appropriate for political and ecological issues. Central American countries had made considerable progress in establishing democracy and the primacy of human rights. Those advances had been threatened by acts of violence and by political activities that menaced the region’s security. Also, last year, Hurricane Mitch had taken a great toll on human lives, harmed the economy and production, and resulted in a shift of resources to buffer its effects.

He said the countries of Central America were aware of their weaknesses, but they tackled their problems with serious efforts. He hoped the United Nations and the donor community would consolidate efforts in providing further assistance to the region. He requested that no action be taken on the resolution today, as consultations on the draft were still going on.

MATTI KAHILUOTO (Finland), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said that the provision of humanitarian assistance was a priority commitment. Armed conflicts throughout the world had resulted in frequent violations of international and human rights law. Civilians had become deliberate targets of internal conflicts. Although important strides had been made in highlighting the importance of access to civilians, the European Union urged all governments to respect the non-political, impartial and neutral nature of humanitarian work.

The increasing number of attacks on humanitarian personnel seriously hindered the ability of the Organization to provide assistance to civilians. As the response by hosting governments to various incidents often proved inadequate, the United Nations must insist that governments investigate all security incidents involving United Nations system personnel. In that regard, the Assembly should reinforce the call of both the Secretary-General and the Security Council to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel. The possibility of expanding the scope of the 1994 Convention on the Safety of United Nations Personnel to include locally recruited staff should also be explored.

Natural disasters had also affected many parts of the world on an unprecedented scale, he said. Natural disasters needed to be addressed in a comprehensive manner, emphasizing pre-disaster measures, early warning and prevention. It was important to develop a holistic approach to disaster response. The European Union acknowledged the need for immediate allocation of resources for assistance to survivors of natural disasters. Cooperation between coordinators was likewise important. Coordinators must share a common understanding of the goals of United Nations operations in a particular country.

RYUICHIRO YAMAZAKI (Japan) said that humanitarian assistance was not simply a passive response to an emergency. Strategic thought, based on principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality was essential. Several positive steps had been taken in the past year. Debates were under way on means of strengthening legal protection for civilians in conflicts. The question was how to stop the culture of impunity: non-State perpetrators of serious crimes had to be tried and punished. The establishment of the International Criminal Court was a major step towards enhancing the accountability of parties to a conflict.

The protection of humanitarian personnel was a burning issue which needed immediate action, he said. His country supported the Secretary-General's recommendations to pursue the development of a protocol to the Convention that would extend the scope of legal protection to all United Nations and associated personnel. Japan hoped that all States would recognize the seriousness of the need for effective measures to be taken in that regard.

He said his country was pleased that the World Bank was advancing a post- conflict agenda, and working more intensively with partners such as the UNDP and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on plans for activities in places such as Sierra Leone and Kosovo. A comprehensive approach was required to fill the gap including such factors as protection of human rights, security, demobilization and good governance. One of the major tasks facing the world now was how to bring about effective reconciliation among once- warring parties.

LEE SEE-YOUNG (Republic of Korea) said that one of the keys to improving the provision of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance lay in better coordination. The long-standing practice of dividing relief efforts by time-frame -- long and short term, as well as by function, institution, logistics and even financing -- might be logical on paper, but it was clear that in reality relief efforts could not be neatly separated into tidy packages. Phases and functions often overlapped, requiring an approach that was at once integrated and comprehensive.

To utilize the limited resources available in a more efficient manner, there should be close collaboration between OCHA and other development agencies, he said. The Consolidated Appeal should be developed as the main tool for mobilizing resources.

To achieve better coordination in the field, the role of the humanitarian coordinators or resident coordinators was of the utmost importance. Making their selection process more transparent would entail broader recruitment among all United Nations agencies. Those who deal with short-term relief and aid must coordinate their efforts closely with those handling long-term development assistance, and vice versa.

OCTAVIO FRIGERIO, Secretary of International Humanitarian Assistance “White Helmets” of Argentina, said the active participation of civil society in United Nations activities was an indispensable requirement for the success of pre- and post-disaster and post-conflict humanitarian missions. The availability of White Helmets volunteers was therefore a useful, effective and efficient tool to secure such participation.

The White Helmet initiative, he said, had gained experience, been ratified by an independent evaluation, and had formed a broad network of agreements and contracts with such organizations as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the World Food Programme (WFP). A number of Member States and sectors of civil society had shown interest in the White Helmets concept. There was now potential for replication of a similar mechanism in other countries.

He concluded by expressing concern for the safety and security of volunteers in the field, and said it was unfortunate that young men and women who had volunteered their hearts, bodies and minds should be targets of random and indiscriminate violence. It was incumbent on everyone to make clear their feelings of revulsion, and take the necessary steps to avoid repetition of the violence.

ABDALLAH BAALI (Algeria) said crises and humanitarian issues continued to multiply, and that brought into focus whether the Organization had the means to deal with those problems. Its capacity had been improving, and OCHA, for example, had achieved considerable progress in rationalization, organization and coordination. Other factors that could be considered included the participation of the countries involved in outlining and controlling the procedures to be used in handling disasters.

Algeria shared the concern over the donor selectivity that resulted in unequal distribution of resources worldwide, he continued. For example, Africa, which had suffered most from natural and humanitarian disasters, had received less than 40 per cent of the required $800 million. As a result, serious damage could be done to the continent’s efforts at reconstruction and development. He called on the international community to support Africa’s efforts and guarantee its peoples a chance to achieve lasting peace and economic development and revival. In 1997, he continued, the highest costs had been incurred for humanitarian disasters, while the extreme vulnerability of developing countries to natural disasters had become obvious. Those countries, as well as the donor community, needed to integrate the national development aspect with natural disaster management in technical and human resources programmes.

The duty of humanitarian intervention had once again raised questions in a world where borders were being rapidly removed. But his country could not sanction the negative effects to national sovereignty introduced under the guise of humanitarian assistance. Bigger countries, exploiting humanitarian principles to gain political ends, might be tempted to invoke the “right” of interference.

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