Disaster Relief

Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Assistance

The Government has increasingly assumed responsibility for disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.

(i) The utilization of military and civilian personnel in disaster relief operations and an ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Centre, as provided for in the ASEAN Security Community Plan of Action

Secretary General Kofi Annan and the heads of the United Nations agencies concerned paid timely visits to the disaster stricken areas to carry out inspections and provide guidance in disaster relief efforts.

At the same time, 1 million was intended to go to the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund.

The Chinese Government will continue, together with other countries, to actively participate in international and regional cooperation in disaster prevention, relief and reduction.

16. Further encourages compatibility and complementarity of telecommunications and other technological equipment required in humanitarian and disaster relief operations

Calls on United Nations entities and international and local humanitarian relief organizations to strengthen the gender dimensions of their responses to disaster situations

SADC would also like to underline the importance of international cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development.

Disaster relief and refugee services that encompass family reunification and support.

1. Recognizes that disasters affect many areas of the Earth and that coordinated international efforts are required to reduce their impacts, and that space technology and its application can play a vital role in supporting disaster relief operations by providing accurate and timely information and communication support

Thirdly, we are pleased that the Protocol applies equally to operations delivering emergency humanitarian assistance in natural disaster situations.

Emergency relief

Such analyses have been used by WFP and other United Nations entities to plan and implement relief operations, as well as disaster reduction activities.

How Effective is Disaster Relief?

We have committed 425 million towards a comprehensive package of disaster relief measures for disaster victims and reconstruction assistance.

To be sure, it is widely agreed that aid for disaster relief and assistance to conflict affected countries are effective.

(c) Increased capacity of developing countries to deal with disaster relief.

Effective coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance requires cooperation between all stakeholders, including the United Nations system, and regional as well as national mechanisms.

Also calls on Governments to promote and protect the full enjoyment of human rights by women, including in the context of natural disaster relief, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts

The Information Technology Operations Unit has also established enhanced disaster recovery services and absorbed an increased workload in procurement and training activities.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) welcomes the decision of the General Assembly to hold a special debate on the urgency of strengthening emergency relief.

In paragraph 723, the Board recommends that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs draw on the Indonesian experience to propose an institutional model for coordination in transitions from disaster relief to recovery.

In conclusion, CARICOM States resolve to work closely with the Emergency Relief Coordinator and other United Nations agencies to ensure the success of that new venture to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance.

Noting that local communities are the first responders in most disasters, and underlining the critical role played by in country capacities in disaster risk reduction, including preparedness, response and recovery,

He stressed that two billion people in developing countries were affected by climate related disasters in the 1990s, and 2 per cent of World Bank funds are diverted to disaster relief.

Welcoming the progress made by the Emergency Relief Coordinator and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat in strengthening the coordination of humanitarian assistance of the United Nations,

5. Welcomes the progress made by the Emergency Relief Coordinator and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat in strengthening the coordination of humanitarian assistance of the United Nations

We welcome private sector contributions to development and humanitarian relief

Calls on Governments to involve women in all levels of decision making in disaster situations, including in community level welfare centres for displaced persons

2. Also welcomes the progress made by the Emergency Relief Coordinator and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat in strengthening the coordination of humanitarian assistance of the United Nations

WFP has advocated for full respect for its humanitarian principles in the design and implementation of integrated missions and has continued to work with the Emergency Relief Coordinator on the selection process for Humanitarian Coordinators.

Special economic, humanitarian and disaster relief assistance

Briefing by the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

Emergency relief cannot be supplied by the international community alone.

With respect to the deployment of personnel, we have sent several civilian disaster relief teams to the affected region to provide emergency relief and medical and other assistance to the devastated areas in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Beyond emergency relief, this situation reveals a number of structural problems that the international community should help to address through broader support and increased capacity building.

Mr. Sardenberg (Brazil) (spoke in Spanish) Brazil welcomes the convening of this meeting of the General Assembly on the strengthening of disaster relief assistance and rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention activities following the disaster caused by the tsunami in the Indian Ocean.

On the day after the tsunami tragedy, the Islamic Republic of Iran began sending relief consignments to the disaster struck areas and took part in the international relief operations.

The Government of Afghanistan has set up a disaster relief committee to coordinate the humanitarian response to these emergencies.

Those should form part of a comprehensive package of response to the relief and development dimensions of humanitarian disasters.

The Resident Coordinator reports to the Emergency Relief Coordinator during the emergency and is backed by the disaster management team, which should mirror the structure of the Inter Agency Standing Committee and include the Red Cross movement and representatives of non governmental organizations.

In that respect, relief operations experienced new setbacks in October.

Delegations congratulated UNICEF on its rapid response, saying that UNICEF had shown itself to be a credible partner in disaster relief, and the profile of the agency and its Executive Director in the immediate aftermath was to be commended.