A/46/PV.39 General Assembly

1 should like to propose that the list of speakers in the debate should be closed today at 12:30 p.m. If I hear no objection, it will be so decided. It was so decided. The PRESIDHT (interpretation from Arabic): I therefore request those representatives wishing to participate in the debate to inscribe their names as soon as possible. Mr, KUSLID (Norway) : I have the honour today to speak on behalf of the Nordic countries - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and my own country, Norway - regarding a subject which deeply concerns our Governments and inspires vigorous public debate in our countries. In no other ffrsld of human endeavour th&n in the area of humnnitarinn emergency assirltancs can timely and effective raspoons he more directly and dramatically msnsured in terms of human suffering and lost lives - ane fortunataly, sometimes al50 in lives saved - or in terms nf social and material devastation. This fact is a serious reminder of the gravity UT the challenge we muat face and the responsibility we muat as5ume during this session. The dramatic increase in the number and acope of emergencies during the past year has provoked a long-naeded and, it must be said, positive debate on meas*clreP to improve the international response to emergency humanitarian needs. A convergence of views emerged during the second session of the Economic and Social Council last. summer. The informal summary gi\reii by the Chairman at that time, resulting from those discussions, has provided a useful basis for pteparations at the national, regional and Secretatriat lovels. We thank the Secretary-General for hia comprehensive report to t.hia aeonion elf the Glsneral Asnembly. It provides concrete proposals and gives us ;raluablc qrlidance i.n our discussions. Xa him report the fiecretsrg-CQneral ham outlined the mandates and rQmponmihilltisr cf ths various United Nations agQnCiQm in thQ fiQldm of early warning, prevention, respoasnr. rehabilttstion and development in relation to QlMtKgWBCiQ~. WQ have a ConridQrablQ cspac1t.y today for thQ necsssary connprshQamivQ CemponmQm. still, further atrQngthQning Of QaCh of thdmQ agaacias in thQir reapsctfve arQam of operation la vital. The rospOn8Qa. in their KQspQctivQ aroaa, of the Unitsd Nations agencies cancarned rsquirb ifnproved cooperation and coordinat.ion. It is encouraging to note that procyQ8a hea ~QQZI made in this respect: during the past few montha, a number of inter-agency coordination meetings and information-sharing meetingrr which included concerned countries and international and non-goverMtQntr1 agenc iss have taken piece in Gensva. The Office Of the Unitad Nations Diaantxbr Relief Co-ordinator (UNDRO) has functiowd a8 a secratariat in organising such me4~tinga and in preparing the welcome practice tf launching consolidated United Nations appeals: we very much appreciate this practice. We loot forward to further discussions with a vied to clarifyiP9 how UNDBO can best play its role within the framework of a coordinated effort. Coopenntion and coordination practices are also bein developed at the field IQVQ~, for exampls in the cont.ext of thQ Qmergoncy Operation8 in the Gulf and in the Horn of Africa. Formalioing these practices at Headquarters and fie1.l levels would ensure improved coopsration and coordination of rQ&soasea by all partisa concerned, There is a need for the governing councils and bodies of the variaus UnIted Nations agencies to review and strengthen the yrepnredness and the response capabilities of their organizationa. Efforts should be made by us all to ensure that the Gemoral Assembly taker a decision encouraging such a process. The situation of internally displaced persons has been referred to by the Secretary-General in the context of the Office of the United Nations High Conmissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Conunission on Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programe (UNDP). The number of intaraally displaced persons today exceeds 20 million. Their need for protection, assistance and solutions should be dealt with in a comprehensive manner by the international cofmaunity. Here, we hope that the analytical report for the Commission on Human Rights, being prepared by the Secretary-General will comprehensively review the needs of internally displaced persons and present proposals to address their plight. In the debate during the past year on ways to improve the United Nations response to emergency situations, there has been an increasing recognition of the need for restructuring the present coordination and management system ff>r emergency assistance. rt should be clear by now that in order to carry out our task successfully we shall have to approach the various questions of reform with an open mind. Particularly in man-made emergencies, United Nations action should be combined with political initiatives to facilitate humanitarian relief and long-term solutions. The irternational community looks to the Secretary-General for leadership in dealing with these issues. The whole range of the political, humanitarian and development capabilities of the United Nations must be tnobilized for a coherent and effective response. Given tha importance and dimeusions of the task, we strongly support the proposals that a high level official assist the Secretary-General in this task. The official should porrarr personal qualitiem such as to l nsuro both the necessary coordination and the maximum political backing for United Nations humanitarian operations, particularly in 8ituationr where there are conflicting political views and interests. It ir important to stress that this high-ranking coordinator should be able to draw on the capabilities of the existing operational organisations. It is also vital that the demands on the United Nations systems be equalled by the necessary meana, Through concerted action, the Secretary-General and the United Nations agencies must be provided with the tools and conditions necessary to be able to respond. As I mentioned earlier, the emergency response capabilities, including funding flexibility, of the various United Nations agencies should be further strengthened. Still, in major, complex emergencies, this will not be sufficient. We therefore support the proposed establishment of a central emergency revolving fund of $50 million by means of a one-time assessment on Member States. It should be in the interests of all Governments to cootribute to an enhanced United Nations emergency response capability. As donors, we have a responsibility to provide the necessary resources with the fewest possible strings attached in order to ensure effective responses. Our bilateral initiatives should not run counter to United Nations actions, but complement and strengthen them. Let me here underline that the Nordic countries have long valued the experience and capabilities of the non-governmental organizations. They have a major ability to raise public awarenose and support in our countries; they have well-established local counterpart8 in most countries affected by recurrent emergencies. He are convinced that increased cooperation between the IJnited Natians acp11ciea and the non-povernnrntal organixatious could provide a valuable eupplemeat and c~lemnt to effective humanitarian responses to people in distrors. Aa to the affected countries, they have the primary responsibility for developinq and enhancing their prevention, preparedness and response capabilities. They face heavy burdens, but can also contribute to and facilitate United Rationa action in a variety of rays. At the same time, they should be able to count on intsrnatJona1 support. The full cooparation of Governments is also required in order to ensure access to all persona in need of assistance. Here it must be said that in all too many cases, political motives have prevented humanitarian assistance from entering a country or from reaching population groups badly needing assistance. Without a fundamental change in attitudes towards such obstacles, ve shall never be truly successful. All efforts should be made to create cooditions for the lnost effective use of humanitarian aid, which must always be related to, and find its logical continuation in, rehabilitation and development measures. Furthermore, the protection mandate of the UNHCR with regard to monitoring and assisting in reintegrating repatriates into their countries of origin, and various other measures such as the negatiation of ground rules in cases of conflict have been highlighted by the Secretary-General in his report. We welcome his call for further refinement, by building on earlier decisions and experiences, of these necessary conditions for an effective humanitarian response. We must develop these principles jointly within the framework of the Charter. tins1 ly, wet would like to emphariro our c-i-at to the United Nations and to the process of improving its ability to seapond effectively in emergencier . We hope that the coqerctive spirit that has prevailed in these discussions vi11 lead to decisive action at this session for the benefit of the millions of victims of disasters around the world. Hr. r&l! SCM (Netherlandslr On behalf of the European Community and its member States, I will addrevs the important issue of the role and responsibility of the United Natioos system in providing humanitarian assistance in response to emergencies. Several proposals designed to improve both the management and the effectiveness of the response of the United Nations system to emergencies have been presented recently by the Secretary-General, by us, the Twelve, and by other delegations. 1 wish in particular to thank the Secretary-General for his very interesting reports, uilich contain concrete proposals. Our proposals have much in cormnon in that they are all geared towards strengthening coordination and action in this area. While ve know that what constitutes an emergency is not difficult to recognire in practical terms - those who are affected know when and where an emergency has happened - it is much more difficult, and probably not necessary, to define what an emergency is. The sole purpose of this debate is to place the United Nations in a better position to provide a rapid and well-coordinated response to emergencies, to help the United Nations in savicq the lives of people in desperate need as a result of natural disasters, man-made emergencies or a combination of the two. Why has emerqsncy assistance suddenly become such an important item on the agenda? Events of the past few months have created and are still creating a widespread public outcry and indignation. Wo one ten remain untouched by pictures of starving children in the Horn of Africa, of the floods in Bangladerh and of the flaw of ref*rgees in the Gulf region. The fact that human dignity was denied and suffering tolerated too long without effective and timely action being taken shows that there is an urgent need to deal with problems and shortcomings in the delivery of emergency aid. The moat recent emergencies have occurred in developing countries, which are particularly vulnerable to their effects. When an emergency occurs, whather man-made or natural, its impact is aggravated by the limited capacity of those countries to cope with the effects. No two disasters are the uame, but examples a8 varied as the recent earthquake in San Pranciaco and the cyclone in Bangladesh demonstrate two points clearly, namely that sustainable development makes the impact of disasters less sc’vere and that a better developed infrastructure makea them easier to cope with. Over the past few years, disasters have become increasingly cortplicated and protracted, which is another indication of the insufficient capa ity of developing countries to cope with them. It is clear that emergency assistance alone will not suff :ce. The root causes of the emergencies - such 3 poverty, environmental degradatiou and situations of strife and conflict - must also be addressed. Emergency assiltance, important as it is, cannot replace development assistance. In fact, it is part of a continuum from emergency assistance via rehabilitation and reconstruction to development. The only insurance against the catastrophic impact of disasters and humanitarian crises is ultimately sustainable ‘evelopment. Early warning ip an important tool in preventing disasters from occurring, as regards both sudderr natural disasters, drouqht and crop failure, (tJlLvanBchaik,-m) and situations of strife and conflict. There should be a regular pooling and analysis of all available data and the data should be made available to diaaster-prone countries. It is also crucial to strengthen the capacity of the institutions in those countries to use this information effectively and to set up their own preparedness and mitigation programnea, which can contribute to decreasing the toll of disasters dramatically. In this respect, the International Decade for Naturai Disaster Reduction has an all-important role to play. The role of disaster-stricken countries themselves in providing relief on the ground after a disaster has taken place is often underestimated. Even in poor countries Lhe coxrete self-help contributions to disaster relief made by the people directly affected, by national governments and by local non-governmental organisations is often more significant and speedier than contributions made by external donors. It is therefore of crucial importance that this local disaster-management capacity be enhanced. Emergency relief by and through the United Nations system supplements these local capacities and ‘- it is important to stress this - provides disaster-stricken countries with adequate safeguards as regards respect for uational sovereignty. The United Nations Charter confirms this principle, which was recently reaffirmed in General Assembly resolution 451100. The resolution recognises that it is up to each country first and foremost to take care of the victims of emergencies. At the same time, however, States have an equal responsibility to facilitate the effective delivery of emergency assistance to their people in dire need and to provide access to them. The work of organizations with a purely humanitarian mission should not be inhibited. (nr._VBChdik. Comprehansive action with regard to mudden and complex emergeaciem requires the active jnvolvement of the United Nations oystem, as well as of the disaster-stricken countries, donors, rind governmental and non-governmental organitationm. All of them share a consnon goal, that ia, to nave lives and alleviate the suffering of all affected people. The United Nationa and its specialised agencies should be lo r, ;esition to play a central role. Ths capacity of the Secretary-.General to provida leadership in this respect should therefore be strengthened. This is true for diaaaL?r prevention and mitigation, for preparednesn for disasters, and for disaster management. A first, intersating discussion on this isruo took place during the sumnor session of the Cconomic and Socisl Council, and a comprehensive sunmnary, with concrete ideas, was presented by the Vice-Prwsddeot of the Council, Ambassador Eliasson. In this connection, w4 also welcome ths Secretary-General’s full and concrete rsport on the review of the capacity, c-periencs and coordination arrangements in the United Nations system for humanitarian. assistance. As I have said boforo, that report contains many valuable recommendations and ideas, which w4 share. It provides a thorough analysis of all activities in the field of humanitarian assistants; it does not conceal shortcomings and overlapping; and it is a clear exprsssion of the generally felt need for improved coordination. Disasters and smergenciss always crests chaos. Therefore proper crisis management is ths most important ingredient of effective disaster relief, both locally and internationally. ,trong, experienced leadership and clear lines of authority are vital if the needed prompt and orderly response is to be ensured. The United Nations system must play a crucial rola at the national and international levels. It should provide the necessary authority to mobilize the international community and relief agencies, ao that, in the event of any emergency, they could respond swiftly and effectively, The United Nations should be put in a better position to live up to these high but justified expectations, particularly as regards large-scale, sometimes complex and protracted emergencies. Too often, in such cases, the response has been late and of an ad hoc nature. Therefore the Secretary-General and others propose that the role of the United Nations system should be strengthened, SO that the delivery of emergency relief may be made more effective and more rapid. To that end, the (HL.._waP_S.~&aU1.._Natha~lnad~ 1 Europsarr Conwwnity itself has presented specific proposals. A substantial package of measures, including readily available resources and improved coordination, is needed if things are to be made to work bet’,er. Among the necessary reforms is the appointment of a high-level coordinator fur emergency humanitarian aid, with direct access in New York to the SecreLary-General. The coordinator’s task would be to facilitate prompt, orderly and coordinated responses to both natural and man--made emergencier, and to do so in close cooperation with the United Nations agencies and organisations involved and in consultation with the disaster-stricken countries and the international donor commllni ty. With thr confidence of all parties involved, the coordinator could also help remove practical and political obstacles to relief activities. Another important task of the high-level coordinator would be to operate a coordination mechanism whereby, in a given situation, the division of responsibilities between executing agencies would be clearly defined, and tasks and responsibilities allocated within the respective mandates of those agencies. To that end, the coordinator should chair, at Geneva, an emergency standing committee conlisting, on a permanent basis, of the heads of all United Nations agencies and organizations involved in relief assistance, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Organization for Migration should have a standing invitation to participate. The committee should foster a “culture of coordination” among all participants and should provide a aeeting-point, through a process of consultation, for recipient countries, the donor community and non-governmental organizations. 3ractical arrangements between the high-level coordinator and relevant United Nations agencies and organiratianr could he put in place, with a view to facilitRtiag i-dials action in the eveat of an emergency. The coordinator should combine the functions of the present United Nation6 Disalrter Relief Office (UNDRO) coordinator and of the Secretary-General’s current special or personal representatives dealing with particular emergencies, as well as their staffs. Thus, the coordinator would ba able to give URDRO, which would serve a6 the basis for hi6 recrerariat, gwater authority, rendering it more effective in facilitating actual relief operatione. The activities of UNDRO, covering the full disaster continuum - comprising ecrrly warning, prevention, preparedness and mitigation - should be strengthened under hi6 leadership. Also, the vast expertise and institutional rnsmory that UNDRO has acquired in the 20 years of its existence could be utilired to the maximum. We note with appreciation UNDRO’s availability to support and serve a high-level coordinator if one is appointed. That availability is confirmed in the Chairman’s summary record of the fourth meeting of officials in charge of national emergency relief services, which took place at Geneva on 1 and 2 October 1991. The high-level ctbordinator would put together consolidated appeal6 - a6 is already done in some cases - on the basis of tailor-made plans. Provision would be made for subheadings, so that direct responses could be given to the appeals made to participating agencies. As is also proposed by the Secretary-General, the high-level cooidinator should have at his disposal a revolving emerqency fund, to be established through the provision of new and additional resources. That fund, consisting of readily available money, would make it possible to meet initial financial needs in emergency situations, and the money would be allocated in ( nr I-mGchsik,- ) I-oasultation with the emergency standing cosunittee. The fund should be rsplsairhed by agencies benefiting from it. In addition. agencies should be invited to psrticipate in it, using their own resources. Several United Nations organimations and agencies have oparational reserves or emergency funds of varying magnitude. In larger-scale emergencies involving more agencies of the United Nations, the standing emergency committee should discuss the use of the existing start-up funds, with a view to facilitating the effective utiliration of those funds and of the revolving fund and preventing gaps or duplication in the provision of financing. Lastly. the high-level coordinator should keep an up-to--date register of human and material stand-by capacities of the United Nations system, of States and of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations. Those resources should be available at short notice in different emergency situations. They should consist, for example, of quick-dispatch relief teams. emeK9ency stockpiles, food aupplies and logistical resources. All relevant United Nations agencies and organixations should be asked to update their existing rosters and to put their facilities at the high-level coordinator’s disposal. Standing arrangements with States and other interested parties for the early dispatch of stand-by teams and materials should be prepared. Recruitment and procurement procedures and contracts should be standardixed to the greatest possible extent. He welcome initiatives taken by individual agencies in this respect. I refer, for example, to the recent agreement between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Norwegian and Danish refugee councils on the secondment cf staff at the request of UNHCR when an emergency occurs. (MK ,... YM .§chaiL .latharlseba ) Rffective coordination in the field is just as important as arrangements at Headquarters level with which I have dealt so far. We emphasixe the principle that at the country level a single senior United Natioaa official should hs in charge of coordinating the efforts of the United Nations. This official should be trained in disaster management and be able to liaise closely with the government and intergovernmental and non-governmental organitationa, thereby facilitating relief operations and promoting the une of all locally available relief capacities. In view of the continuwn of disaster relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, the United Nations resident coordinator system should be used. Thiu would ensure a speedy transition from relief to development. The United Nations Development Programme (IJNDP)-UNDRO Training Programno deservas increased support. The Coordinator should draw on the experience and the capacity of non-governmental or9aniaations. These non-qovernmental organizations have accumulated highly valuable expertise that could add to the capacity r,f the ‘rnited Nations for quick and cost--effective responses to emergencies, They cover the full spectrum of needs, from relief to rehabilitation, and often provide assistance to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. Their important role as operational partners to a9encies of the United Nations and other organizations cannot he overemphasized. Full use should be made of the capacities of non-governmental organisations in the actual delivery of emerqency assistance at the field level. The European Comnnity and 1tr member States mra looking c’orward to II further exchange of vierr on the urgent issue of improving the United Rations mertpncy- respons* clrpae 1. TV . Wlu welcome th.is debate and the dincusrion of the various propomalr which have been presented in an informal open-ended working group. I am convinced that WC rhskl be able t-o merge the vntious idsas jnto concrete proporaln for improvsment of the emergency-rerponxe capacity ot the United Rations. In the intereet of people whoxe liver are threatencrd by emergenciex and whose human dignity in at xtake, it is crucial for the United Nation8 to be prepared and to be able to act. Mr. Jim (China) (interpretation from Chinese)1 The Chineee delegation wishes to thank the Secretary-General for the report he prepared on the item ohtitled “Strengthening of the coordinatlo? of humanitarian emergency arristance of the United Nations”. We should like to make a few observations on this question. The Chinere delegation is of the view that, although many agencies of the United Nations aystem are involved in humanitarian emergency assistsnce activities, the division of labour among these agencies is clear-cut. They have all rucceeded within their respective mandates in providing emergency relief assistance tc the victims of disasters or refugees, and have positively contributed to alleviating their suffering <rnd minimizing property losses in the stricken areaa. Xumanitarfsn emergency assistance ia provided primarily to people in need of emergency relief due to natural disasters, as well as to refugee,, or persons displaced aa a result of disasters, natural or man-made, to help tide them over their difficulties in their daily life and rebuild their home I and. At preeent, thare are well-functioning agencies of the United Nations rerpoasihls for the coordination of emergency relief assistance to these peroons. The Office of the United Nstions High Commis,ioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is in charge of coordination in providing humanitarian assistance to refugeaa and dIeplaced peraons, while the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator IS a coordinating aqency responsible for coordinating emergency relief assistance. In setting up this coordinating agency for disaster relief, the General Asasmbly, in resolution 2816 (XXVI), adopted on 14 December 1971, pointed out that the Secretary-General is called upon “to appoint a Disaster Relief Co-ordinator, who vi11 report directly to him and who will be authorited, on hia behalf . . . to mobilise, direct and co-ordinate the relief activities of the various organiaetions of the United Nations system in response to a request for disaster assistance from a stricken State: to co-ordinate United Nations assistance with assistance given by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizatious, in particular by the International Red Cross; to receive, on behalf of the Secretary-General, contributions offered to him for disaster relief assistance to be carried out by the United Nations, its agencies and proqramnes for particular emergency situations; . . . to promote the study, prevention, control and prediction of natural disasters, including the collection and dissemination of information concerning technological developments”. (m.mJutios 2816 oCr:I), ~L(L 1, and para, 1 (b), (~1, LQ’anQLf) 1 ( ur~.-u-larChjp& ) In mccordance with this resolution, the Office of the Disaster Relief Coordinator uaa set up in the United I’wtions system and a senior Disaster Relief Coordinstor nt. the Under-Secretary-General level was appointed by the Secretary-General, to be responsible for the coordination of all the emer,Jency relief activities of a9sncies of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organirationa. Practice over the years has proved that the Disaster Relief Coordinator ‘s response to disasters has been expeditious, his assistance to the stricken States in assessing their losses and needs for assistance timely, and his coordination of assistance given by the international coeununity and international organitations effective. We highly appreciate the work of the Office of the Disaster Relief Coordinator and hope that it will continue to play its role of coordination of emergency relief assistance entrusted to it by the General Assembly. In our view, the proposed appointment of another senior cuqrdinator for humanitarian emergency assistance needs further discussion. First, there is already a well-functioning coordinating agency for emergency assistance and a senior Coordinator at the Under-Secretary-General level. We do not see any need for the appointment of yet another high-level coordinator. Moreover, the key to emergency assistance lies in its expeditiousness and timeliness. The appointment of another coordinator will not only increase expenditure but, more important, result in the overlapping of agencies, complicating bureaucratic procedures rnd, because of delays, missing opportunities to provide emergency assistance. ( !!iL*.-.&.~~~,~ea ) !t%o l formationed virwr do not inply the abmencs of a aeod furtbor to improve and l trongtboa the uork of the l ximt(n9 coordinating a9enciem of t.Lu, United nstion0. In our view, tbelr role 8hould not be veakened. Tbo relovaot a9enciem l hould continue to conbine their l ~periencs and isprovo their vork mo am to avoid undue rqmtition and vamts of emergency asrimtance naterialm. Iurtbonoro, quertionm r-sin not only 6s to bov to brinq EJ rout clorer cooperation ~IUJ tbr vatioum agencies but also am to how to bring into full play the role of the international community, agencies of the United Rationm syrtea and non-governksmotal organirations in providiny emergency assiBtanCm. In view of this, we proposer First, setting up an inter-agency coordinating mechanism, for example an ad hoc inter-agency joint committee for emergency relief aaaiatance, comprising the existing agencies of the United Nations system involved in disaster relief activities, in which, igter slip, ways of responding to large-scale and complex emergencies by the international community, Uuited Nations agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizationa will be discussed, measure8 for providing aasiatance will be studied and means of coordination will be consideredr Second1 y, that the comnittee should be chaired on a rotating basis by the heads of the existing major relevant United Nations agencies and that its members should be the heads of other agencies: Thirdly, that, with a view to ensuring a speedy response to disasters by the United Nations, a central emergency revolving fund should be set up. In accordance with paragraph 1 (d) of General Assembly resolution 2816 (XXVI), the Disaster Relief Coordinator is authorized to receive, on behalf of the Secretary-General, contributions offered to him for disaster relief assistance to be carried out by the United Nat.ions, its agencies and programmes for particular emergency situations. The fund should be at the disposal of the Disaster Relief Coordinator on behalf o f the Secretary-General. China’s proposal is not intended as a substitute for the existing coordinating agencies. On the contrary, its purpose is to enhance coordination among the various agencies and bring into full play the role of the United Nations system in providing humanitarian emergency assistance to the stricken areas. We are of the view that the coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance is of great significance not only at the int,ernationnl ( MrL..JLip__Yn_nslbmL. Jzt.Li.n4 ) level but even more at the country level, particularly aaristance provided by the Governments of the stricken countrier. We should respect and support the coordination work carried out by those Governments. It is essential, once people suffer nedore loss of life and property as a result of natural or man-made disasterr, that the international conwrunity should provide timely emergency assistance to them. The international connunlty has an obligation to help people in difficulty make proper arrangements for their daily life, rebuild their homeland and restore production. .Tbirr assistance is in the fullest humanitarian spirit. None the less, ue hope that r.uch humanitarian assistance will not be affected in any way by differences of political system, ideology, race or colour between States, nor should any preconditions be attached to such assistance. The assistance as such should be provided in full respect for the sovereignty of the recipient States, for otherwise it will be deprived of its intrinsic meaning. Hr. WVR- (Union of Sov iet Socialist Republics) (interpretation from Pulrsian): The improvement of the coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance is one of the Organizat ion’s priority tasks. Emergencies affecting nilliona of people are occurring more and more frequeotly as a result of natural disasters. environmental calamities, industrial accidents, famine and war. Assistance to the victims is provided by a number of organitations, programnes and funds of the United Nations system, as well as by other international organizationa, including non-governmental arganizationa. The need for coordinating all these efforts has long been recognized by the world community. One of the first steps in that direction was taken in 1971 by the establishment of the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator (UMDRO). which is doing much to mobilire relief for the victims of natural and other disasters. The need for further steps to improve coordination was reflected in resolut.ion 361225, in which the General Assembly decided that the Secretary-General should designate a lead entity in the United Nations system to provide an effective international response to major dis&sters. The experience gained in the past 10 years confirms that this is e sound approach but suggest8 that it must be applied on a permanent rathsr than ad hoc basis. Our discussion today is essentially aimed at finding a solution to the problem of institutionalising the coordinating mechanisms of humanitarian emergency assistance, so as to make full use of the unique capacities of the entire United Nations system, together with those of the non-governmental oroanisations, in order to provide a prompt, effective and harmonised response to emergencies and disasters, taking into account all their aspects. The recossnendations contained in the Secretary-General’s report on the capacity of the United Nations system to provide humanitarian emergency assistance (A/46/568), the numerous studies carried out inside and outside the United Nations and the exchanges at the summer session of the Economic and Social Council, under the presidency of Ambassador Eliasson, have revealed a broad consensus about ?!.a ways to improve the Organization’s performance in that area. Agreement is emerging on the need for structural reforms and for ensuring complementarity of the efforts made at the global, regional, bilateral and national levels with a view to maximizing their cumulative effect. More;~ver, all Members are agreed on the need to make more extensive and regular use of the available facilities of the United Nations system in order to ensure the early detection of emergencies, tmprove prevention of natural and other disasters and relate all these efforta to development objectives. Thus, we believe that the outlines of a resolution to he adopted at this session of the General Assembly are becoming increasingly visible. In our ViW, almost all the elements for solving the problems of coordination in emergency humanitarian asaistauce already exist and may be found within the existing multilateral structures. What is crucial today is to put these elements together properly in a structured and organically unified mechanism capable of ensuring efficiency and complementarity, vhile eliminating duplication of work and unnecessary competition. Therefore, as we see it, the primary task is to implement administrative measures that have long been needed. We support the idea of setting up the post of a high-level coordinator for all matters relating to humanitarian emergency assistance, who would act on behalf of the Secretary-General, would have direct access to him and uould be mandated to coordinate the United Nations system’s operations designed to respond to various disasters in a timely and adequate manner. The coordinator, relying on the apparatus of UNDHO, would harmonise on a regular basis the efforts of the international organizations involved, most of which are, as members know, based at Geneva. To that end, an inter-agency corrusittee, presided over by the coordinator, could be established. Such reforms would, we believe, considerably improve interaction between New York and Geneva, the two United Nations capitals traditionally engaged in coordinating system-vide activities in various spheres. At the S~JHB time, it is clear that New York and Geneva are not where dieasters usually rttihe. It is therefore importsot to pay attention also to regional mechanisms for implementing new approaches based on the human and other resources avai,tile in the United Nation8 system. In particular, the inter-agency committee could hold some of it8 rearion away from Geneva. possibly at the headquarters of regional economic cornlesions or other regional bodies. From the very start of United Nations humanitarian assistance activities, it has been the understanding of the world cownunity that humenitariao assistance should be made available to victims of every kind of disasters, both natural and man-made. That approach is laid down in the mandate of UNDRO and in numerous subsequent resolutions on the subject. The relevance of this comprehensive approach has increased dramatically in recent years, primarily because of the enormous numbers of people being uprooted by disasters of every kind. According to United Nations eatimatea, their number is now about 41 million, most of them being displaced persons. Mechanisms fad extending international humanitarian assistance to tbis category of persons are at preseQt amonq the least developed, and it appears that this question should be given special attention in the future. Overall, as we see it. aftor adopting a resolution on the aforementioned &ministrative measures to improve the coordination of emergency assistance the General Assembly at this session should also provide for starting work CQ the further development of the basis in international law for future activities by international organisations ia this area. Such work could eventually produce a generally acceptable set of principles. criteria and forms of response by the world community to various humanitarian emergencies. taking into account all the aspects involved. That work will undoubtedly be lengthy and complicated, but it must be begun. Frank and business-like discussions would make it possible to reach agreement on politically sensitive issues of humanitarian assistance and to look for solutions that would protect the human rights of the millions of people who are caught in a desperate situation which is not of their making. We could then dispel the well-known concerns about what is usually described as "humanitarian intervention". IQ fact, we should talk about formulating the principles and norms of humanitarian solidarity. all these are important tasks for the future, tasks the world community must start dealing with. At the present session we can and should reach agreement OQ specific elements of administrative reform in the existing organizational structures of humanitarian assistance. We hope that our discussion will produce understandings on the format for a relevant decision by the General Assembly. (Mr. Lawrov. IJm) Our delegation stands ready to make a constructive contribution to the work that lies ahead. Mr. MISSAXY (Yemen) (interpretation from Arabic): The review by the General Assembly of the item under consideration, namely, "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance of the United Nations", reflects the depth of the United Nations understanding of the different aspects of the international community's response in cases of emergency. At the same time, it allows a common and clear perspective of the aspects that can lead to reinforcing the measures taken by the Organization. The adoption by the General Assembly over the past few years of significant resolutions on the provision of special emergency assistance in response to natural disasters highlights the extreme importance of the human role the United Nations plays in helping stricken countries which suffer great losses in human lives or the displacement of hundreds of thousands of their citizens. Such assistance also contributes to these countries' development efforts. Xesponse to natural or man-made disasters over the past few years has brought home to all the need to increase assistance which remained at a low level, notwithstanding its vital importance. Hence, the General Assembly is called upon now, more than ever before, to increase financial resources and make them easily available. This process requires, first, a political will and a belief in the effective role played by the United Nations and its institutions in this respect. The consequences of tbe latest man-made disasters such as the problems of ;efugees, returnees and displaced persons, have demonstrated that it is vitally important for the United Nations to set up a framework programme that (Mr. Lavrov, USSX) wuld aim wu at providing stability, safety and the basic neceBBities of life for such victims and, at the same time, pronate the implementation of economic and social development plans throuqh the provision of assistance earmarked for that purpose. Yemen believes in the importance of assistance, especiaIIy that which is aimed at linking emergency relief to sustainable development in both the medium and long terms. At the Bame Lime, we share the view of many delegations that such assistance should not be used a8 a pretext to interfere in the internal political affairs of the stricken countries. It. is important that such assistance should remain on the lofty plane we should aim at. The main objective of aseistance is to shore up and enhance the natural capabilities of developing countries that are vulnerable to natural disasters. CODSOCJUODtl)‘, assistance should 90 beyond short-term objectives in a manner that would strengthen national offices and give them an important role to play. Training courses for Local personnel should be intensified and technology should be provided in the area of mitigation-.prevention and preparedness in coping with such disasters in observance of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction. We support the Secretary-General’s proposal contained in his report dated 17 October 1991 on the establishment of a United Nations central emergency revolving fund under the authority of the Secretary-General. We also support hia proposal that a capital amount L f 350 million should be allocated to that fund at the beginning. In the meantime, donor contribtitions for each individual case should continue. We hope that thi 7; fund wi 11 be under the personal control of the Secretary-General ao that he can make use of the expertise of the Offics of the 1Jnited Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator And other specialised agencies. Yemen is not opposed to the proposal of appointing a high-level coordinator to assist thn Secretary General in responding to emergency situations in order to exercise the Secretary-General’s leadership role to maximum effect. That would improve the rationalization processes at present under way in the IJnited Nations especially in the economic and social fields and reinforce lye role of the apecialized agencies in carrying out their mandate in the best way poasihle. In the meantime, wo must avoid duplication of efforts. In this respect, we atress the need to conduct more feasibility atudiea of this extremely important high-level post. Yemen is one of the group of least developed countries. Throughout. ! he past four years of the present decade, it has been afflicted by repeated natural disasters. Those natural disaatera have been debilitating to the country in the medium and long terms despite the national and international efforts that were made to mitigate their consequences in the short term. Shortly after reunification, and as a result of the Gulf crinis, Yemen experienced the return of about a mlllion Yemen1 expatriates to their home1 and. Over the same period and ns a raault of recent developments in the Horn of Africa, Yemen has been inundated, In r.ddit,Jon, with other expatriates and rofuqees. Wo now have a cle6r picture of the extent of the damage and losses sustained by Yemen as a result of all the aforementioned disasters. In view of the national efforts by the Government of Yemen in response to these situations, I must confirm the importance of international cooperation as a catalyst for such national efforts. In Yemen, we believe in the important role played by the United Nations in this respect, in keeping with the objectives of the international decade. & RIE(&Jgll; Ms (Mexico): For more t.han a decade, the international community has been concerned with increasing the capacity of the United Nations system to mobilize and manage timely hunwnitarian aid in cases of natural diaaatera and similar emergencies. My deleyation has already espoused this concern, and has on various occasions reiterated its commitment to the humanitarian assistance vhich the United N&l-ions has been providing ever since it was created and which vas one of the purposes that gave rise to our Orqanization. Over the last few years, the Leneral Assembly has adopted a number of resolutions calling attention to existing obstacles to the effective response of the United Nations system to emerqency situations, and it has made appropriate recommendations. But these recoml i!ndations have not been carried out. Instead, the search for novel approaches has continued, vithout regard for the real causes of the problem. One need only point. out that in 1987, as a result of lessons loarned from Africa, the Secret.ary-General asked the Dlrector-General for Development and International Economic Cooperation to act a8 a coordinating centre for mnerq~nd~n, but these functions hnve nevar actually been performad. A number of natural disasters and similar emergency situations have taught both the fnteroational convnunity nod the countries affected a number of painful lessons, making it clear that there is an overriding need to strengthen present programnets of humanitarian assistance. A lack of resources) lack of coordination; competition among ayenciest unclear universal criteria; duplication and overlappinq among sgencies and non-governmental organitatioasr these and other problems all have to be corrected. Furthermore, very little attention has been given thus far to the close links between nature1 disasters, emergencies and development. My delegation believes that any new resolution intended to improve the coordination of international humanitarian assistance must take into act junt not only prevention and preparedness, but also the transition between the Disaster relief and the medium- and long-term development programmes in the countries concerned. Clearly this principle applies particularly to developing countries, which are most vulnerable to the vagaries of nature: matters are only made worse by the problems peculiar to countries with backward economies. In the tragic aftermath of the war in the Persian Gulf and other emergencies that have affected a number of developing countries in the past year, international debate has focused once again on the urgent need to improve coordination in such a way as to make possible the effective and timely mobilisation of the resources of the United Nations syste.n in the humanitarian field. This noble objective hae brought to the fore, both within and outride the IJniter! Nations, 8 current of opinion that there in a right to interfere in the internal affaira of a State for humanitarlsn reaeonm. To the emerqencfea already recognixecl by the United Nat.iorrs, t,hsrs is a desire to add other emerqencies of a political nature. Hut the definition of these situations is unclear and could give rim to arbitrary or unilateral interprmtationo, thereby violatin one of the fur\damental principles of international relationa; absolute respect for the sovereignty of Statea. Here and now, my 3eleyation would ksitsrate its rejection of any attempt to revise thin or any other basic principle8 of international peaceful coexistence, or to give our Orqanizntion functions that are not provided in the Charter and in the principles of international law. The United Nation6 must not be used as a platform for interfering in the internal affairs of States or undermining their sovereignty. My delegation is not convinced either that the creation of new arrangements would be the best way to resolve the problem which leqit.imately commands our concern, particularly if such new arrangements are to be given broad, vague mandates in an attempt to disreqard the primary role that should be played by the State concerned in initiating and promoting emergency assistance in its territory. It is absolutely necessary that, in the negotiations to be carried on here in the coming days, we should achieve a balance between international cooperation, the respoaaibility of States, and respect for their sovereignty, in order to ensure a collective dsciaion that vould prevent arbitrary or unilateral actions. nr>--x ( WYPt I* The quertton of improving the coordination and enhancing the offoctivene8r of Unitad Nation8 humanitarian emergency aasirtance rsquirea constant ersnJnstion and review. MO task could be more important then that of saving lives and helpinq people in distrers. Recent event8 have reeffirmed the central role of the United Nationr and the outstanding contribution it can make in mitigating human rufferingr but theme eventr have alma railed problenr of coordination and cooperation among the varioue organ8 and agencies of the United Nation8 system. It therefore appears very relevant to diacusa ways to improve the functioning of the system. The views of the Group of 77, of which my delegation is a member, will be erpre88ed fully by the Permanent Representative of Ghana. My delegation would like, however, to make the following comMnt8. Over the year8, variour United Nations orqan8, alonq with specialixed aqenciea, in particular the Office of the United Nstiona High Comniasioner for Refugees, with the United Nations Disaster Relief Organisation as a focal point, have accomplished tremendous work in emergency relief. They have acquired rich experience and have earned the appreciation of the international community in general, and of the recipient countries in particular, During the Gulf crisis, Egypt was among the countries most affected, and I em pleased to confirm that the work and dedication of the relief staff have been greatly appreciated by my Government. I wish to highlight, in this connection, the role of the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator (UNDRO) and commend the Co-ordinator, Under-Secretary-General M'Hamed Essaafi, and his staff. In retrospect. one can state that the crisis proved the capacity of the different bodies to respond to a state of emergency. They have carried out their roles efficiently, notwithstanding the limited resources end technical difficulties which were sometimes obstacles in the way of the rapid execution of their tasks. Ia order to ensure that timely and more-effective assistance will be provided in the future, various approaches to the question of coordination have been suggested formally and informally. In this context, my delegation wishes to express its appreciation for the Secrtary-General's report on the matter (W46/566). !Che report constitutes important input for our deliberations by providing practical proposals for streamlining the activities of the United Nations system in the field of humanitarian emergency assistance with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of international response. Comprehensive in scope, dealing with all aspects of emergency situations, including early warning, prevention, preparedness, stand-by capacity ana strengthened coordination, the report stresses two essential conditions to ensure the most positive results: first, the resources provided must be sufficient and available; and, secondly, coordination within the United Nations system and with Member States, both recipients and donors, as well as with intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, must be improved. While my delegation agrees with this approach, we believe that before any step is taken all the proposals should be considered in depth, weighing their pros and cons carefully. It is important to focus on cooperation between the different organs and agencies in Kew York and Geneva in or&r to ensure streamlining and avoid overlapping. The existing mandates of all the agencies should also be carefully examined. Linked to tbe previous point is the need to take into account the different processes of accountability that exist in the various organs ana agencies, processes that influence their autonomous initiatives. As regards the degree of automaticity with which emergency relief activities can begin to be implemented, my delegation would like to stress that two steps are at present necessary: the request of the affected country and the decision by the appropriate United Nations authority to respond. We should be very careful not to raise expectations regarding the capacity of the United Nations to deal with all types of emergencies, particularly those with political aspects or caused by internal conflicts. In these cases, many factors limit the system’s capacity ana the scope of action has so far been rather limited. It is important to understand the nature of the relationship between tbe problem of emergencies and the question of development. The level of development has direct consequences on the degree of preparedness and vulnerability of disaster-prone countries. Emergency relief assistance is helpful in overcoming difficulties in the short run. More fundamental is the need to help developing countries speed their development, raise their level of scientific research and high technology and train qualified personnel so that their ability to contribute to the prevention of disasters and the mobilisation of rslief efforta will be strengthened. My delegation fully supports all efforts Bimod at enhancing the efficiency and effectivenun of the system’s emergency response capacity an6 attaches great importance to a re-examination of the United Nations role. I t. is quite clear that there is a need to ensure the continuity of financial r8sources through the eBtabliahfnent of a permanent fund for humanitarian assistance. UNDRO’B technical and manpower resources need to be increased in order to identify the local, regional and international capabilities available to provide humanitarian aid and to ensure a rapid response to any request for assistance. At the same time, v8 recognize that direct contact with the Secretary-General is important, indeed necessary, for ths mobilization of international efforts. The notion of a right of intervention is, at the present stage of evolution of legal norms, still controvsraial. Contemporary international law does not yet recognixe such a right. It should, houevsr, be pointed out that international law is progressive! aveloping. The injunction contained in Article 2, paragraph 7, of the Charter, which prohibits United Nations intervention “in matters which are essentially within tha domestic jurisdiction of any State”, has undergone many conceptual changes as a result of the conclusion of a host of international conventions. The development of legal norms requires a degree of consensus which my delegation has not yet detected. It is our firm conviction that United Nations activities in the field of humanitarian assistance should not constitute infringerrents on national novere ignty. Improvement of those activities does not hinge on the recognition of nny right of intervention. In concl.usion, my delegation approaches the item under consideration from the angle of the collective responsibilty of the international community to provide humanitarian assistance and to mitigate suffering. All States, regardless of their atage of development, face this challenge. It is our duty to improve and enhance our ability to shoulder this collective responsibility. Pkdl!&XBMG (Brazil 1: The inclusion in our agenda of an item on the coordination of humanitarian emergency asaiatance was a timely initiative, and I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the Member States of the European Coxmurnity for having requested that inclusion. I also wish to express our recognition of the excellent work carried out on this question by Ambassador Jan Eliasson, Permanent Representative of Sweden, as Chairman of the Third Committee of the Economic and Social Council. The views of the Group of 77 a8 a whole on this item will be expressed later by the representative of Ghana. Seldom is the expression “United Nations” more concretely meaningful than in the field of humanitarian assistance. Nowhere perhaps is the ideal of nations united n~~re tangible. Indeed, what goal could unite us more intensely than that of saving lives and alleviating human sufferinq? Prom an ethical standpoint what activities could be more cotuneadable and more unobjectionable than those intended to provide relief and care for those in need, what inactivity more unforgivable? The various United Nations agencies that work in the humanitarian field are among the best-.known faces of this Orqaniration in different regions of the world. For many men, women and children the sky blue of our flag has been made synonymous with the comfort of a friendly and helping hand. For these important achievements it is appropriate that we give due credit and recognition to the single-minded and generous dedication of United Nations relief workers throughout the world, often operating under extremely difficult circumstances and sometimes at the risk of their personal safety. Over the last several months, much to our sorrow, we have witnessed a number of emergency situations in different regions of the world, and the ensuing tragedy of millions of fellow human beings for whom life has been made all but impossible as a result of natural disasters or of the combined impact of underdevelopment, hunger, disease and ,liolence. The fate of these men, women and children and the sheer magnitude of their tragedy, which appears even greater when compared with our limited capacities, could not but give u5 pause and make us ponder that the decade that was lost for development was SlSO. to a larye extent, a decade lost for the prevention of such human emergencies, Too often the process of development Is portrayed es simply an improvement ia rtandstdm of living or an increase in eccess to the facilities of modern life. Development in also a process through which societies acquire stronger resilience and a greater capacity to copa with unexpected hardship aad CBtaStrOphe. No words would be strong enough to highlight the tragic consequences of human emergencies, and the developing world’6 utter vulnerability to catastrophe denounces the unfortunate failure to achieve significant progress and substantial results in internstional cooperation for development. That linkage is unavoidable. Excellent work has been carried out by Vnited Nations humanitarian 8gencies, and that continues at this very moment in places far away from this Hall. Notwithstanding that, many authoritative voices, including that of the Secretary-General, have expressed concern that the mechanisms available for mobiliring and coordinating humanitarian emergency assistance within the United Nations system could and should be improved. The Brazilian Government supports that view and the efforts that must accordingly be made to achieve better, more effective results in emergency assistance. Many of the procedures and mechanisms we use today for dealing with emergency situations are the result of learning by doing, in particular in the area of coordination. Many such mechanisms and procedures were built on the experience gained through a practice that included shining examples of inspired creativity and sometimes mere improvisation dictatc;d hv a well-justified sense of urgency. While this is perfectly understandable, given the special circumstances under which humanitarian work is pursued, it is fair to say that the resulting situation is one which is not always clear. Diffarent ideas and propossls have haen flonted, by Mamber Gtatea and hy the Secretary-General, for Improving the way in which we do thing6 in emergency relief operat.ions. We are convinced that all those ouqqestjono deserve our best attention, and we ere willing to continue dincuss\nq them on the baois of e careful and detailed assessment of past. experience. an we1 1 aa on the basis of our conunon humanitarian goals. We support the idea of hoIdiny informal consultations with e view to ensuring in-depth discussions on thoae various propoaals and on their technical advisability. In the very useful, but very preliminary, dIscussion held in the Economic and Social Council in July my delegation p!!t forward its views on the broad directions that should guide our deliberations on thin question. I wish to elaborate on some of thoae coucepta. Pirat, it seem8 clear at this stage that the best approach we cap take is to addreas in a pragmatic and result-oriented fashion the queationa of availability of resources end of coordination, without attemptinq to change, by subtraction or addition, the content of the mandates that already exist, or the structures of accountability that correspond to each of those mandates. If we agree on that, a great deal of time can be saved by making it plain in our deliberations that they are not intended to introduce changes in mandates or to create new substantive mandates. Due account has to be taken of the heterogeneous nature 3f the competences of the various humanitarian agencies. As we have previously pointed out, the question of disaster relief end the question of assistance to, and protection of, refugees, Co mention but two questions, each forms a separate issue area, each with its own specific features. There is an obvious need for coordination, under the nut-hority of the General kssembly, among the agencisa working in them. different bream, but that coordiaatton has to be carried out without projudics to the Bp9CifiC rerponribilitier inherent In each particular mandrrto. A proper balance ham to be struck between the need for centralised coordination and the qualitative differences between the various elements that are to be coordinated. If the establishment of new l tructures is to be considered, it is essential that we clearly understand whence the need for Buch new structures arises and the exact r9latiOnBhipB they would maintain with the existing one1. We are examining this question with an open mind. As a matter of principle, new levels of decision-making should be added if, and only if, it is clearly demonstrated that the exirting ones are not appropriate or sufficient. The effectiveness of humanitarian emergency assistance is to a large extent contingent on the ability to respond promptly to requests by Mevber Staten. To that end, it is esaential that the required resources be made availeble in a timely manner to the various agencies. Here again we must strike a balance between the possible advantages and disadvantages of centralised mechanisms. Should we come to the conclusion that we need, to some extent, more centralired procedures, we might have to consider ways to ensure the necessary flexibility in the relation8 between affected States and separate United Nations agencies. Needless to say, the management of resources involves appropriate procedures for accountability to the membership. In the on-going debate on this matter, mention has been made of the possible relations betueen humanitarian assistance and national sovereignty. ha we have stated on previous occasions, and as is recognised in KeBOlUtiOnS adopted by the Assembly, United Nation8 humanitarian activities do not (nr.snaBcLPBUnL..BEW) constituta infringements Of sovereignty. The improvement sad enhancement of husianitariaa activities is not contiagent on conceptusl revisions or innovations in that connection. The fact that emergency assistance is alwaya provided at the request. and with the consent of, the affected countries is not only a premise of humanitarian work. It also makes our deliberations here much easier. Its recognition can obviate the need for protracted discussions on some of the guestions involved, includiag, possibly, questions related to the definition of tbe term *emergency*‘. 0s~. Sardenberrx, BrarQ) Lastly, while. we can and must improve what calls for improvemeut, we have to be careful not to fix vhat is not broken. One thing that is not broken is the very concept of what constitutes humanitarian action as distinct from all other forms of activity, most particularly, political and coercive activities. Do what we map, we must at all costs preserve the purity of that concept and prevent its being unduly affected by extraneous realities. Bumanitarian activities in general - and emergency assistance is no exception - must, by definition, be dissociated from political considerations of all hues: they are, by definition, neutral and impartial. Only by preserving the pristine humanitarian character of these activities can ve avoid disagreements on political questions - 0~ on any other questions - becoming impediments to emergency relief activities. It is not by chance that the notion of humanitarian activities was developed in connection uith situations of armed conflict. The secret of effectiveness in the humanitarian field is that, even when nations disagree on everything else, even when they clash, they can still agree that the wounded must be assisted, that the sick must receive adequate care, that suffering must be relieved. That is, if I may say so, a minimal straight line drawn in the crooked timber of humanity. It is the fact that agreement on such a core of minimum values is discernible - this fact and nothing else - that makes humanitarian action as such possible. The need to keep humanitarian activities free of extraneous elements entails important consequences for the way we deal with the question of prevention. Addressing the political root causes of emergency situations is an essential task for this Organisation: it is doubtful, however, whether any positive gain would be derived from characterizing that task as being included (Mr. Sardenbera. Brazia) in any hmaaltariaa mandato or ee being too clorely rslated to itr rather, it would mourn more advlwablo, 13 each cm@. carefully to eeparate hi snitarisn from political endeavours eo that the former can be pursued reyardr*as of the eucceee or failure of the letter. The greatest mer!.t of the humanitarian approach, and its distinctive note, resides la the fsct that pursulaq it does not aseume succens or even progreer in the political field. Humanitarian action is incompatible with an all-or-nothing attitude. Itr only assumption is that certain thinqs can and ought to be done even if they do not solve the whole problem, or rather, that at times certain things ought to be done precisely because the larger problems remain unsolved. m. WQlWQ (Japan)8 At the swener session of the Economic and Social Council in Geneva, iutensivs discussions were held on the question of the response of the United Nations to emerqencies. The deliberations addressed various aspects of the response. and a number of areaa where improvements might be made wore ident:fied. I should like to thank hmbassador Eliasson of Sweden, Chairwan of the Third Committee, for his excellent swmnary of those discussions. Sims that session, ideas have been further elaborated and 80s~ specific proposals hwe been put forward fL,r further effort6 to strengthen the effcictivanaaa of tk L’citcd Hatfens system in the area of humanitarian emergency relief activities. I should like to expreSs my appreciation for the Secretary-General’s report (A/46/568), which contains very important specific recommendations. While my delegation can endorse many of those recommendations, it will need to examine some others carefully.* * Mr, Ghezal (Tunisia), Vice-.Preaident, took the Chair. In recent yssrs, the larger numbers of dinastsra both nstural and msn-made hsve resulted in human loss. nuffsrilig and devastation on an unprecsdentad reals. Aa indlcntsd in the F cretary~General’s report. the response of the international community. and of the United Nations system in particular, to such disastera has rightly become the focus of major international concern. The United Nations system IS increasingly being called upon to play a leading role In ensuring a swift and effective response to all these emergencies. Howeve f , recent experience in, for example, the Gulf, Bangladesh end the Horn of Africa has revealed both the extent and the limits of the capacity of the United Nations to provide emergency relief. My deleyrrt.ion thus supports the vier that there is an urgent need, inter @.&in, tc strengthen the capacity of the United Nations to respond to emergencies and. in particular, to complex and large-scale disastera. Much attention has been focused -3n the question of coordination. while I do not wish to downplay the importance of coordination, I believe that it is important to place the matter in its proper perspective. A response by the international comnuaity to an emergency very often involves the collective efforts of, and a division of responsibilities among, the affected country, United Nations tilyanizationa, donor governmenta, international agencies such as the International Cotmnittee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies and non-governmental organizations. Among the United Nations organs, actual operational relief activities - such as delivery of relief materials - are undertaken by the Off ice of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World FOCJ~ Programme (WFP) and the World Health Orgsnisstion (WHO), among othera. At. the eune time, a coordlnatinq role is performed t’y the United Mations Dirsater Relief Coorclinatorr by a epeclel repreanntntive of the Secretary-General who is l ntrueted, on an sd hoc beeis. with the task of coordinat.ing activitism in rerpoase to a psrticular emergencyt or. in aome caeee, by a de5ignsted lead agency. In short, t.he role of t.he Coordinator, whose ultimate authority derives from the Secretary-General, is to maximite the capacities of the operational entities of the United Nation5 system. It is essential for the role of the Coordinotor to be enhanced; in particular, the Coordinator 5hould maintain close contact with the Secretary-General. At the same time, however. it must be borne in mind that the function of the Coordinator can in no way replace operational functions. For this reason, I believe that highest priority should be given to rationalizing and utiliring existing agencies within the United Nation5 aystem. Also, the mandate5 and budgets of theae agencies, which are authorixed by their governing bodies, should be fully respected. Having said that, let me explain my delegation’5 approach to the question of coordinator. Twenty year5 ago, the Cenerel Assembly adopted resolution 2816 (XXVI 1, requesting the Secretary-General to appoint a Disaster Relief Coordinator who would have a very broad mandate to mobilize, direct and coordinate relief activities. (Mr. r..JiataP.VL lapan ) Since then, more t.harA a doswn renolutions, including. for example, resolutions 361225 and 411201, have been adopted by the General Assembly to strenqthsn UNDRO. I believe it is particularly relevnnt to quote here a paragraph that has bewn included in many of those resolutions. “The General Asssmbly. ,, . . . “Reaffirm6 its belief that the strengthening and reinforcing of the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator offers the most efficient c-Id economic means of effectively coordinating t-he relief activities of the United Nations system as a whole...“. (~JQ&- 37LMI,nnra. My delegation does not exclude consideration of the proposal by the Secretary-General, as contained in paragraph 31 of his report, to appoint a high-level official. In this context, however, it should be recalled that some major donors have reiterated the need to reduce the number of high-level posts in the Secretariat. At the same time, my delegation fully rwcoqnizws the need to facilitate and galvanizw the prompt response of the United Nations to disasters. Let us therefore examine whether UNDRO has in fact functioned as expected and, if it has not, let us identify any shortcomings in the existing mechanism and suggest possible remedies. At any rate, the Coordinator should seek to establish a clear division of tasks among agwnciwa and should in no way interfere in actual relief operations undertaken by agencies. There is a need for coordinated need assessment, plans of action, joint appeals and provision of information to the agencies and Governments concerned. ( ML*.-4hM9 L- .\l,BY.M 1 Rather than calling interagency meetIn to respond tv emergencies on an ad hoc basis. it would be helpful to establish in Geneva an int.eragency emergency standing coxxnittee that would include representatives of the International Cormnittee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the League of the Reck Cross and Red Crescent Svcieties and the International Organiration for Migration. Arrangements should also be made to facilitate prompt consultations with Cuvernrnents concerned. I should like to emphasise the importance of prevention, early warning and preparedness in mitigating loss and human suffering engendered by sudden dSsasters. Thus I would like to suggest that the early -iarning system that is already in existence and in operation in the United Nations system be reviewed, consolidated and strengthened. Early warning information received by one agency should be shared with the others. My Government would r.180 stress that activities of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, including disaster management training, should be accoleratsd. Mvreover, regarding an early warning ayatem relating to refugees and displaced Qersons. my dcleqntinn Relieves the report to be yrepared by the Office for Research and the Collection of Information should provide a basis for furt,her study. In the event of a large-scale or sudden emergency, what is required most urgerrtly is not only money but very often relief materials and experienced personnel. Thua my delegation believes a system should be developed for the compilation and updating of lists of available relief materials and human resOUtCen, including a back-up capability for disaster relief within United Nations agencies as well as from Governments, the ICRC and other non-governmental organizations as appropriate. ?undlng also remains an important ismuo in l trmnythenin9 the \lnlted Nation8 emergency relief cspar ty. The efforts of United Nations opsrstlnc? agencies and UNDRO in responding to large-scale emergenciae have frequently been critlcired. Recent experience in the Gulf region and In the Horn of AI r ica has, however, revealed that financial cotmnitments by the international community fell short of the appeal8 made by the Secretary--Geisral or coordinators) in some instances, actual payment was delayed. It is only fair, then, that Member States acknowledge that these United Nationa relief activities were weakened by the shortage of funds. Each relief operatinq agency has it8 own reserve fund and/or other emergency arrangements in order to cope with the initial phase of an emergency. These contingency arrangements within the respective mandates of agencies should be strengthened. The provision of adequately funded emergency reserves to respective ngencies is crucial in coping with an emergency in its initial phase, which is often especially difficult. la regards the idea of a central emergency revolving fund, as proposed in paragraph 14 of the Secretary-General’s report, my delegation is not yet convinced of the need to create a central emergency revolving fund in addition to those funding arrangements that are already in place to meet specific requirements in each operating agency. At any rate, my deleyation is of the view that any funding of this nature should, an a matter of principle, be based on voluntary contributions. Last but not least, my delegation reaffirms the principle of sovereignty. It believes that the initiation and implementation of humanitarian assistance in its territory ‘9 the primary responsibility of the Government oi the affected country and tt,at the Government should asswne responsibility for facilitstiug and supporting humanitarian assistance operations for members of its population who are in need. My delegation is also of the vjew that the United Ratio s should ensure cooaent from the Government an early as po8lBible for the implsmeutatioa of relief activities in order to ensure that they begin promptly and proceed smoothly. This principle ia incorporated in General Assembly resolution 45/100, which was Adopted by consensus. In my view, the question relating to sovereignty snd internntional norms should bet more appropriately dealt with in the Third Coewnittee, and at this session we should limit our discussion to issue8 of an institutional or administrative nature. In concluding, I wish simply to express the hope that efforts will be made to accommodate the views of other delegations so that the draft resolution on this important issue can be adopted by consensus. I might add in this connection that it would be wise to incorporate in the draft resolution only essential elements and to call upon the Governing Councils of operating aqencies, such as the United Nations Children’s Fund and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to eltiorate on specific modalities within their respective mandates. NaJEKu (iiechtenatein)r The pnst yeor has been another year of tremendour political changer in the world. It haa also been a successfuI year for the United Nations, with the result that there is an increasing demand for internutional action in variolrs fields. Humanitar ian emeryency assistance is one of thsee fields. Disasters, whatever their cause and form, must be of concern to the international comnunity. They have often resulted in irmrense human suffering before adequate United Nations action could be taken. The international community must assume responsibility for giving the best possible assistance to countries struck by catastrophes. It is not only natural disasters that can have devastating consequences for the people concerned; regrettably conflicts of a political nature too can, and do, cause human misery. It is therefore fmi’erativu that we aim at improving and strengthening the United Nat.ions emer .ency-response capacity. In recent months - following the adoption of resolution 45/221 last year - there have been discussions at various levels on how humanitarian emergency assistauce through the United Nations system could be strengthened. In this context I should like to mention the constructive discussion that took place during the swmner session of the Economic and Social Council. By tradition, Liechtenstein is committed to t-he provision of humanitarian aid. We therefore welcome and wholeheartedly support these endeavours. We are of the opinion that humanitarian assistance is first and foremost the responsibility of the States affected by disasters. However , those States cannot bear the sole responsibility. Recent experience has shown that some disasters are of such magnitude that their effects can be overcome only with the cupport of the international cnrrur,unity. I Should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the United Oations rpciallred agencies and organisstionr for their recent humanitarian-relief sctivities. We are very qrateful also to the International Committee of the Red Croaa (ICRC) for the assistance that, under its mandate, it provides, especislly to all those protected by international humanitarian law. It is of the utmost inportarrce that the ICRC be clorely associated with existing and any new mechanisms for the provision of humanitarian nasistsnce. Despite the United Nations system’8 undeniable merits in the field of humanitarian as8istanc0, it has become obvious that further improvement is possible aud necessary. we uould welcome steps to optimire the early-warning systaa, an enhanced dialogue between donors and recipient countries, and an improvement in the existing la&titrations through closer cooperation between the United Nations and donors and recipient States, as well as non-joveramental organitations, Therefore - without prejudqinq other reforms of the United Nationa Secretariat. - ve ahould welcorns the appointment of a high-level coordinator with a view to improving the efficiency of the United Nations system. He or she should act under the personal authority of, and should have direct access to, the Secretary-General. The high-level coordinator should maintain permanent coutact between donor and recipient States, the relevant United Nations agencies and non-governmental organirations. Purthermo , ve should welcome the establishment of an emerqency standing comittee, based in Geneva and headed by the high-level coordinator. This cormnittee should include representatives of all humanitarian agencies. Equally, non-governmental orgenizationa should participate. As a location, Geneva offers the advantage that existing structures could be utilised. Disaster-prone areas and recipient countries themselves need to imQrcve their preparedness for emergencies and their prevention strategies. In his report the Secretary-General states that the United Nations system should increase its efforts to help Governments to develop disaster-mitigation programmes. We fully support this proposal. Effective humanitarian assistance is possible only when adequate resources are available. Aware that improving United Nations activities in this field has budgetary consequences, we should welcome the establishment, on a trial basis, of a revolving emergency fund for the purpose of making possible an immediate initial response to catastrophes. My delegation would like to thank all those couMzries involved in the recent reform initiatives. We stand ready to participate in the ongoing dialogue, with a view to defining clearly the way in which, and the extent to which, the existing structures might be adapted and improved. Hr. KQU~R (Prance) (interpretation from French): The representative of the Netherlands gave a detailed account of the initiative of the States members of the European Community. I should like to make it clear that my country subscribes completely to this initiative. The coordination of humanitarian assistance in the case of natural or man-made disasters is a response to an acutely felt need. Over the last tvo decades such disasters have caused approrimately 3 million deaths and have made 800 million people homeless. Of these victims, 90 per cent are to be found in the countries of the third world. These people are already afflicted by underdevelopment, an& this has had a multiplying effect on the human consequeuces of disasters. Over the last 20 yeara there has undoubtedly been au improvement in the ~83~ in which emergencies are responaea to. Eaving returned recently from the unfortunate countries in the Horn of Africa, I should like especially to ccmmend all the agencies of the Jnited Bations, tbe International Red Cross, the local Bed Cross end the non-governmental orqanizations for their efforts. Nevertheless, experience in this area indicates that, despite the progress that has been made - and I amphasize that progress has been made - there are still a number of dysfunctions when it comes to preparing for. orqauising, conducting and followinq up aid, whether from intergovernmental organisations or from charitable associations. These untoward situations some&es result from an excess of improperly coordinated goodwill, which may, indeed, prove to be extremely prejudicial to countries and peoples already sorely tried. Sometimes such a situation is regarded as *'a disaster within a disaster" - to use words uttered during a World Health Orqanization Congress - and presents the stricken country with the additional difficulty of the nead to hanmniae the efforts of well-meaning but badly coordinatea rescuers. We must. be constantly aware, ana must remind the countries that are fortunate enough to be wealthy as well as those that are unfortunate to be poor, that aid is intended to relieve suffering. and not to satisfy fir.;t--Tid workers. t-1 Some of these dyafunction~ are moreover the result of imprecise or erroneour information abcut the quaotitstive and qualitative dimensions of the actual disaster. In thir connection it may have been noted that informants. like Governmaats, more often than not tend at the outset to exaggerate the difficultier involved and the figurea given very often have to be revised downward later on. That is fortunate. The initial announcements are neverthelear the disinfornation of a generous response, gathered in an excessive or erratic way, baaed less on fact than on rumour. Therefore, rather than rushing into the process of providing information, which is no essential in this age of speed and fleeting emotion, we should get down to ferreting out the truth. cooperatjng with the press and devising a way to follow up events, particularly am regards television. ‘I’hese days the memory of a particular disaster does not last much longer than a week or two. One event follows another, and then the victims ace forgotten and the criticism of the aid begins. This is a coostant feature of public opinion. It was made particularly aware of the difficultiea encountered recently in giving aid in the Gul.f, ir Ranqladesh and in the Horn of Africa - and I have hdd experience of thia elsewhers. They are the same difficulties, varying according to the different contexts but identical in their technical components: differing evaluations, delaya, unfortunate rivalry, duplication, the absence of loqiatics, unavailability of stocks and difficult access to the victima. A comparison of data and the consideration of possible solutions to the problem of a~:- h phenomena are essential today. In this connection I should like to conmend the Secretary-Genaral’s report, which is indeed a valuable contribution to thinking an thia subject. In ray prorrnt functions, (111 veil as in nty Pant experience, I have frequently bean faced with problems of coordinating emergency assistance. this gives rise above all to problencs of disaster mnncrgement. any rationalisation of aid must bo bsssd on a thorough maatery of what we had once called “the epideniology of disasters”. A scientific approach to the problem mane that w have to rid ourselves both of the sort of fatalirm which is inhoront Lo the rwtaphysical viaion of these disasters, and of media exhibitionism, which indulges in unduly emotional exploitation. The natural disaster has more to do with the probable rather than the foreseeable, the possible rather than the expected, and the unforeseen rather than the rolective. This is not a reason for giving way to rsaignation or for simply muddling through. Our responsibilities are both preparatory and operational. They are both preventive and remedial. They are always established in accordance with the requirements of the victims. This is what could be called the morality of extreme amergency. The exercise is not aluays easy. Dospite progress in scientific knowledqe and technological response, the vulnerability of contemporary societies to such disasters has not been reduced - it has even grown greater. Rigourous methods for evaluating damage and needs are essential if there is to ba a coordinated handling of disasters. This is a real science that is coming into being. This was the thrust of one of the proposals which we made in Septembur 1988 in the draft joint manifesto on the epidemiology of disasters which I addressed to the United Nations Disaster Relief Office (UNDRO). I am very pleased to note that it appears among the first approaches outlined at the third and fourth meetinga of the national emergency relief services. ( Hr*_llrryrhnra L._I_rn&C, 1 Are approximations and empirical data inevitable in emerqeaciest Us cannot claim that we will ever be rid of them completely nor can we hope that ve will have perfectly tailor-made assistance operations, but we can reduce thm problema. Wo know from exparionce the kind of needs that are involved in each particular type of disaster. Nevertheless, in each instance, identifying there needs should be determined in a specific ray, which requires the participation of qualified experta, not so many of them perhaps, but at least coordinated. The quality of the information provided depends essentially on the teams which gather it. The presence in the field of representatives of the great family of the United Nations snd the major non-governmanta organitatioas experienced in thia field will improve the reliability of the information. I aa awaro of the quality and reliability of the regioual vigils of UNDRO and the accuracy of the telexes they send to us. It is essential that these data he kept up to date all the tima and constantly re-evaluated as the situation evolves and as external or national aid becomes available. But today we must 90 even further. We have to contemplate a policy of coordination and increased harmonization, one which is both more rapid and more effective. I am fully aware of the difficulties of this exercise, but the stakes are too high to ignore, since it is a question of reducirlg the number of disaster victim6 and easing the burden which the Governments of the victim countries have to bear. when a natural dlssster strikes, a great variety of aid comes from man)- different countries, provided by very dissimilar organisms. Multilateral coordination within t.he United Nations syat.em has been fragmentary. cssa-by-cass or blow-by-blow, in the cn~e of certain humnnitarian actions where a sort of consortium of organisations and agencies have joined togather to deal with a particular circumstance. Thus, the United Nations intervention In the Sudan. where there was a mixture of famine and war, illustrated these new approaches in 1988. In this context., France, at the request of Mr. Grant, allocated two Transal aircraft of the French army to the airlift organised by the International Red Cross to serve the main agglomerations in the south of the Sudan. Today, the situation is equally tragic, and deapite the remarkable effort& of Ur. James Jonah. not enough humanitarian aid can reach the victims A coordination vested with greater authority would surely help US ~~er~oae these obstacles, so that there would no longer be situations where b-n beings are dying a few kilometres away from available aid. From this you can see bow much attention France is giving to the idea of naming a coordinaf.or. It would be better to say a “harmonitor”, if t-he word existed since use must be made of the means available to tne United Nations agencies in n positive and non-constrictive way to ensure the greatest benefit for the victims and the best use of donor resources. This “harmonizer”, this coordinator - since the word “harmonizer” does not exlet - would be concerned mainly with getting initial information on the disaster and s$nthesixing it; harmonizing the action of the agencies: launching a consolidated appeal to the donors; imdiately allocating the ( t!tL hU,KhRQL ~1AFK.Q ) ascm~ary funds for rontIering firat sidr nppsaling for human and aaterial ald from aqencien, Government8 and non-qovernmental orqaniration@j and mskinq contact with the authorities in the atrickcn country in order to ensure accena to the victims. The Secretary-General alone has the necesnary authority to asmum these variour rssponsibilitier. But, quite clearly, he cannot exercire them perronallyr coping with a crisis requires, at least for 601~ days, absolute round-the-clock availabi1it.y. It. is quite evident. that. in a number of difficult situations - Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, South-East Asia, the Mijdls Eaat, Central America - the Secretary-General has soen the need to appoint a special adviser. This is why in the future he should be able to rely on a senior official who has direct acceao to him and who also has a great measure of authority vested in him. The role of the coordinator would obviously not be to substitute for the ageneiea, which alone have operational capability. Relying on the structure of IIHDRO, whose experience is incomparable, he would make it possible for the agencies to accomplish their missions more rapidly, with greater complementbrity, and therefore more effectively. Their role would thereby be enhanced. The Coordinator’r primary tsrk will br to preside ovat an emergency comnittne, comprising, on a permanent belrir, the competent agencies of the United Nations system. The conunittes would be brought into play in emergsncies, snd would therefore l erve in Geneva es a Resting point. for non-governmental organlsationr, the atrlcken countries and the donor countries. The venue would be Geneva, because it is essentially, but not exclusivsly, a focus of efforts within the United Nations system and in the permanent missions of Member States to respond to emergency situations. After appointing the Coordinator and setting up the committee, the establishment of an * ~nr*rqency fund is the third ossentfal element of the proposal put forward by the Twelve. Victims cannot wait for aid while tho donors, that is, the governments and world public opinion, reapond to the first consolidated appeal issued by the United Nations. Resources must be mpde available immediately in order to finance the dispatch of teams, foodstuffs, medicine and equipment - a revolving fund, with substantial initial resources and with a speedy response capacity, would enable the Coordinator to advance the necessary funds to the operational agencies. France intends to help net. up this fund. Somo reference should also be made to local structures and coordination in the field. France’s experience in this regard may be useful for our current consideration. The task of making speedy aassssments during fact-findir~q missions has become a matter for experts, including those trained in logistics. We have such experts in France. However, WY could save even more time - the first few houra preceding direct intervention, when life and death are hanging in the balance. To this end, France has taken the decision to establish, in each of the embassies of vulnerable countries, the post of (Mr. -AQuchllar, rraace1 humanitarian attach/. This diplomatic initiative has proven to he qu1t.e auccesaful and indeed vary Jensf iclal both In theory and in practice. TIM offirlal will alresdy be in the 11918. He will be familiar with local aid channels and the subtletIe of local sdminiatration. Wit.h the appropriate mean8 at hia dirposal. he will be capsble of imnediatoly grasping the needs and of transmitting them to the appropriate acWncies. He ~111 be familiar with the topography of the nite, aa he will have studied it. He will await the volunteers and coordinate their work. The project that the Twelve are now submitting to the General. Assembly in prsciaely intended to ensure that a single United Nation8 official responsible for coordinating syatam-wide effort.8 is appointed at the country level. finally, particular attention should be paid to the sovereignty of the States within whose territory the disaster has occurred and towarda which the aid ia to be directed. Let WI not be mistaken. Humanitarian action respects sovereignty and State authority. It can in no way be used to intervene in affairs that are essentially under the authority of the nation. That is why, in order to preserve both the principle of non--interference and the principle of free access to aid to the victims of emergencies, the General Assembly has recalled one of the mnin principles of humanitarian law - the principle of subsidiary function. Accordinq to this principle, it. is the territorial States which, under resolutions 43/131 and 451100. have the “primary role in the initiation, organization, coordination and implementation of humanitarian assistance within their respective territories.” (rfm2l~tio.ris. 43 (2.3 1 wO 45/4QO, eN9_,._2 1 Therefore, humanitarian assistance should be a subsidiary action that is never taken unilaterally. In the two resolutions referred to, the General (Mr, Kwchnmf, fiance) Arsembly invites the Gtatee in need of such areirtance to facilitate its provision by “t.he rupply of food, medicines and health cnro, for which acceL)a to victims is essential.” (uii&LA-.m._l) Under the resolutions, free accemu is of concern both to the affected State and to neighbouring and bordering States, which are urged “to participate closely with the affected countriea in international efforts with a view to facilitating . . . the transit of hurnanitsrian assistance.” (r.wsQ,l~l* ltALaL6:rasnluline-*5/-ml_Z) In this connection, I should like to pay a particular tribute to the Bulgarian authorities who, during the events of 1989-1990. considerably assisted the delivery of French first aid to Romania. The principle of free acceaa clearly ahould not be construed to be tantamount to the mere right of transit. It corrresponds to the idea put forward by the Independent Commission on International Humanitarian Issues, presided over by Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan and Hassan bin Talal, that it should be posaible, if necessary. to make use of emergency corridors to reach the victims rapidly, while taking full account of the sovereignty of the States concerned. May someone from the field conclude by paying a tribute to all those humanitarian organizstions that I have seen at work for 25 years under extremely difficult circumstances, ministering to the misfortunes of others. There are many such agents in the United Nationa system - volunteers from charitable orgaoizations who work together, are exposed to risk and who sometimes risk their lives. Some of them even now are risking their lives in various parts of the world. They do no in order to nave others. 1 have just returned from Yugoallhvl~, where both journalists and volunteers are payinq a henvy to1 1. They can be added to the long list of those for whom raving victims in other countries in the performauce of a duty of solidarity. From poreon to Pl)rmon, to preaorve what is the moat dear nnd fraqile of posrersions in thir world “- life. We hsve come together to contribute to thin procssr m0ro l ffectivoly. Let us hope that our efforts will be crowned with BUCC~IIS.

I shall now read out the names of the candidates endorsed by regional groups: for four seats from the African States - Kenya, Sudan, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania: (The Presiden!d for four aeatr from the A11aa State8 - India, the Xrlamlc i!apubllc of Iran, Saudi Arabia sod Thailand; for three resta from the Esntsrn lturopaao States - Csschorlovakla, Hungary and Poland: for four #eats from the Latin American and Carlbbman States - Ecuador and Uruguay8 and for four seata from the Western European and other States - Austria, Italy, Spaln and the United Gtates of America. C(r. WA&&Q (Jamaica): In my capacity aa Chalrman of the Latin American and Caribbean Group for the month of November, I am now in a position to inform members of the Assembly that happily there are now four candidates for the four vacancies available to the Group on the United Nations Conmlsrion on International Trade Law. You, Sir, have indicated that Ecuador and Uruguay are candidates. May I now add that Chile and Argentina are also candidates, bringing up the list to four. The (interpretation from French): Since the number of candidates from the Africaa States, the Asian States, the Eastern European Statea, the Latin American and Caribbean States, and the Western European and other States now corresponds to the number of seats to be filled from those groups, I declare those candidates elected members of the United Nations Coranission on International Trade Law for a six-year term beginning on 4 May 1992. I congratulate the States which have been elected members of the Cosnnission. We have concluded our coosiderhtion of agenda item 17 (c). ADOPTION OF THII AGENDA AND ORGANIZATION OF WORK! TMIRD REPORT OF THE GENERAI, COMMITTKK (A14612501Add.2) The I'RE&IDEIIT (interpretation from French): The report of the General Committee (A/46/250/Add.2) now before the Assembly concern8 the request by the Secretary-General for the inclusion in the agenda of the current oeasion of an additional itsm entitled "Financing of the United Nationa Advance Miaaion in Cambodia". The General Committee decided to recommend to the General Assembly that the item be included in the agenda. May I take it that the Genersl Assembly decide8 to include in its agenda the additional item entitled "Financing of the United Nationa Advance Mission in Cambodia"? T~.-P.RKs.JJJ?-RT (interpretation from French): The General Committee al-o decided to recommend to the Assembly that this item be allocated to the Pif th C0m.i t-tee. May I take it that the General Assembly adopts this recommendation? Tb_PR&SuD-m (interpretation from French): The Chairman of the Fifth Committee will be informed of the decision just taken.