General Assembly Session 61 meeting 52

The President

Members will recall that the Assembly held its debate on sub-items (a) through (t) of agenda item 108 at its 38th and 39th plenary meetings, on 22 October.

I call on the representative of the Russian Federation to introduce draft resolution A/61/L.14.

Mr. Churkin (Russia)

As the Chairman of the Ministerial Committee of the Council of Europe, Russia has the honour to present a draft resolution entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe", contained in document A/61/L.14, under agenda item 108 (g).

It is also my pleasure to announce that Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have joined the list of sponsors.

I wish to thank all the sponsors of the draft resolution for their contributions and strong support, as well as those delegations that participated so constructively in its harmonization.

The draft resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and Council of Europe fully meets the aspirations of both organizations to closer cooperation in the field of peace and security, the defence of human rights, the struggle against terrorism, conflict prevention and post-conflict peacebuilding. Its adoption will no doubt promote the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the principle strategic goals adopted at the Third Summit of the Council of Europe, held in Warsaw, on the basis of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, cultural diversity and social solidarity.

I call on all States members of the General Assembly to pursue the partnership relations that have developed between the two organizations and to consolidate the shared work of the United Nations and regional organizations.

In conclusion, I express my sincere gratitude to all States members of the Council of Europe for their spirit of cooperation during our presidency. We hope that the draft resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe will be adopted by the General Assembly without a vote and by consensus.

The President

The Assembly will now take decisions on the draft resolutions contained in documents A/61/L.8, A/61/L.14 and A/61/L.17.

We turn first to draft resolution A/61/L.8, entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization".

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/61/L.8?

The President

We shall now turn to draft resolution A/61/L.14, entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe".

Cyprus has joined the list of sponsors of draft resolution A/61/L.14.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/61/L.14?

The President

We shall now turn to draft resolution A/61/L.17, entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States".

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/61/L.17?

The President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-items (g), (i) and (m) of agenda item 108?

The President

So far this year, the world has been spared major natural disasters and there have been fresh opportunities for peace, be they in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Timor-Leste. As a result of those favourable circumstances, there has been a reduction in the number of events requiring humanitarian assistance this year.

That pause gives the United Nations opportunity to focus preparedness activities in several regions prone to natural events and to consolidate the humanitarian reforms initiated during the World Summit in September 2005. That reform programme has already been successful.

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), established by the General Assembly last December, has delivered time-critical responses, saving lives in 25 countries. It was particularly effective during the Lebanon crisis this summer, providing immediate funding for the transportation of humanitarian goods across Lebanon when no funds would have been available otherwise. It will be important to continue to improve CERF and to ensure that it is fully funded in future.

Last week, the Secretary-General's High-level Panel on United Nations System-wide Coherence noted that the United Nations has a unique and leading role to play in humanitarian disasters and emergencies. The Panel also recommended various measures to enhance that role further, building on the ongoing reforms.

The humanitarian community continues to face a number of challenges in various areas.

First, there are a number of ongoing emergencies that need to be addressed urgently, such as the drought in the Horn of Africa, which is affecting 15 million people in five countries. Drought cycles have increasingly rendered populations more vulnerable to minor shocks that can disrupt livelihoods, trigger famine and even cause conflicts.

Secondly, access to populations in need of humanitarian assistance remains an issue of great concern. In the Darfur region of the Sudan, 3.6 million people are in need of relief supplies. However, access for humanitarian personnel is restricted due to growing insecurity. Since 30 June this year, 12 humanitarian workers have been killed in Darfur. A substantial grant from the Central Emergency Response Fund has allowed helicopter access to remote areas, but only for a three-month period. That is not a sustainable solution.

Thirdly, gender-based violence is also an issue of concern to the humanitarian community. Sexual violence is only one form of gender-based violence; forced conscription and the recruitment of boys into military ranks are others. Member States have the prime responsibility for preventing those violations by putting in place measures to prosecute perpetrators and by establishing structures to take care of their victims.

Finally, today's debate also covers sub-item (d) on assistance to the Palestinian people. Significant long-term financial support from the international community is needed in order to avoid a further degradation of the humanitarian and economic situation in Palestine. Due to the ongoing political uncertainty and economic hardship, United Nations agencies have directed most of their activities towards immediate emergency assistance.

As we conduct our deliberations today, let us keep in mind all the vulnerable people around the world in need of humanitarian assistance. Our common efforts to strengthen the coordination of the humanitarian and emergency response system of the United Nations should seek to reduce the suffering and improve the chances of survival in times of emergencies. We must not fail those who depend on the United Nations as their final hope.

Ms. Lintonen (Finland)

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU). The acceding countries Bulgaria and Romania; the candidate countries Turkey, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; the countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia; as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.

The European Union wishes to thank the Secretary-General for the reports provided for this session. At the outset, the European Union wishes to express its condolences to respective countries in view of recent humanitarian emergencies resulting in lost lives and livelihoods. We wish to pay tribute to the courageous humanitarian field workers and express our sorrow over the personnel who have lost their lives in bringing assistance to those in need.

The European Union is committed to advancing the humanitarian reform agenda to promote a more predictable and effective humanitarian response, including the development of a stronger standing response capacity, improved coordination capacity and more predictable funding. The Union wishes to reaffirm the United Nations leadership role in humanitarian action and welcomes the improvements in humanitarian response now under way as a result of the reform efforts. However, joint and decisive action is needed to further improve humanitarian action and to prevent crises from the outset. The European Union is especially alarmed at the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in the Sudan, particularly in Darfur, and in Sri Lanka.

The humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence remain the cornerstones for the provision of humanitarian assistance, which has to be needs-based. That is what makes humanitarian assistance unique and is something we as humanitarian actors are committed to. The European Union is an active proponent of international humanitarian law, human rights and refugee law, including the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel.

The primary responsibility for the protection of civilians rests with national Governments. In that regard, we also recall the World Summit outcome of last year on the responsibility to protect. Based on that responsibility of national Governments, the European Union wishes to strongly urge all Governments and parties to conflict to ensure safe and unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance and the protection of affected populations. The protection and security of staff, both in the field and at Headquarters, is of utmost importance. Attacks on humanitarian personnel cannot, under any circumstances, be tolerated. The European Union strongly condemns all threats and acts of violence against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel.

The EU calls for an immediate end to all violence, including sexual and gender-based violence. Effective measures for prevention, as well as for the protection of and support for victims of gender-based violence, must be put in place by Member States. That should include the development and effective implementation of necessary legislation, standards, policies and resources at all levels.

Bringing perpetrators to justice is vital. The EU affirms once again the need to hold accountable those responsible for illegal acts and strongly urges all States to take stronger action to end impunity, including by ensuring that any such acts committed on their territory be investigated fully and that those responsible be brought to justice without delay. The EU strongly supports the International Criminal Court (ICC) and calls upon all States that are not yet party to the Rome Statute of the ICC to ratify or accede to it without delay.

The EU finds it encouraging that the number of refugees throughout the world continues to decrease, but recognizes that refugee situations have become more complex and protracted and that the number of internally displaced persons has grown. The protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons should be comprehensively strengthened. The EU welcomes the new role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as a cluster lead in the clusters of camp coordination and camp management, protection and emergency shelter in conflict-related internal displacement situations, and looks forward to achieving further clarity in the system-wide response to the issue of internally displaced persons.

The humanitarian coordinator/resident coordinator system is key to a successfully coordinated humanitarian response at the country level. The EU welcomes the improvements already made, including reinforced training programmes and the establishment of a pool of humanitarian coordinators. The recently launched cluster leadership approach is equally important, as it strengthens coordination by more systematically identifying roles and responsibilities within the United Nations system. That facilitates strengthened leadership, coordination, strategic planning and the identification of needs and response gaps. The cluster approach should be an inclusive process involving all humanitarian actors in order to increase efficiency at the field level. The EU looks forward to further efforts in that regard, including the strengthening of surge capacity.

The EU welcomes efforts to develop and improve stand-by capacities for humanitarian assistance. In our view, that could include more permanent arrangements with member States and with regional organizations. Local capacity is particularly important in sudden-onset disasters.

Recognizing the benefits of effective engagement and coordination of relevant humanitarian actors, the EU continues to support and further encourages strong partnerships with local actors, non-governmental organizations and civil society, including the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Humanitarian perspectives should be taken into account in political, security and peacekeeping operations, bearing in mind the importance of preserving humanitarian space in integrated missions. The EU believes that the Peacebuilding Commission can further contribute to a coordinated response of the United Nations to States emerging from conflict. The first country-specific meetings held in October on Sierra Leone and Burundi represented an encouraging start.

The predictability, timeliness and equity of humanitarian funding needs to be improved, as some emergencies remain chronically underfunded or even neglected. In that regard, the establishment of the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) constitutes a major improvement. The report of the Secretary-General indicates that CERF has contributed to the timeliness of response and towards improved coordination, in particular at the country level. It has also contributed to a more equitable distribution of aid, addressing core needs in underfunded emergencies, particularly in Africa. The States members of the EU have so far contributed over $180 million to CERF, and additional pledges have been made.

The European Union remains committed to the Good Humanitarian Donorship initiative and encourages the efforts of all donors to implement the principles rigorously. Effective coordination among donors themselves would contribute to a more coherent response and to a decrease in unnecessary and overlapping actions by donors.

The EU recalls the need for reliable, accurate and timely needs assessments and multi-agency lessons-learned processes. Efforts to further improve the quality and inclusiveness of the consolidated appeals process should continue.

Natural disasters are on the increase and have a debilitating impact, particularly on low-income populations. We fully agree with the Secretary-General that prevention is better than cure. Additional investments are needed for disaster risk reduction to proceed from merely reacting to disasters with relief efforts to actually building resilience. Donors and hazard-affected countries need to invest more in disaster mitigation and preparedness measures, including, in particular, national-level and local capabilities, which includes the idea of saving not only lives, but also assets and livelihoods. Disaster risk reduction efforts should be integrated into sustainable development and poverty reduction strategies. Close cooperation of States Members of the United Nations, in particular the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, as well as the international financial institutions, is crucial in building long-term resilience and implementing the priorities set out in the Hyogo Framework for Action.

It is a great challenge to find ways to turn the tragic events of natural disasters and conflicts into an opportunity for long-term development and settlement. The United Nations system needs to give more attention to bridging the existing gaps in addressing situations of transition from relief to development. The European Union welcomes the designation of UNDP to lead in the early recovery cluster within the cluster leadership framework.

Successful transition can be achieved only if there is a strong commitment to ensuring that all members of society are able to play an active role in the process. Achieving sustainable development will not be possible without the full involvement of women. The EU wishes to underline that gender and age should be included in strategies for emergency response and reconstruction programmes as cross-cutting issues from the earliest stages.

Finally, the EU wishes to pay tribute to Mr. Jan Egeland for his untiring efforts in recent years in the humanitarian area. We would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm our strong support for him and his team at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in their important work. The European Union remains committed to contributing towards a more coordinated and effective humanitarian response.

Ms. Rouse (Grenada)

I have the honour to speak, on behalf of the States members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that are Members of the United Nations, on agenda item 69, "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance", and its sub-item (a), "Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations".

We welcome the Secretary-General's reports on those agenda items and wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the Emergency Relief Coordinator and his staff for their hard work and dedication in facing the challenges presented during this past year.

Reports of an upward trend in disasters, with vastly devastating effects, and the probability that this trend will continue as vulnerabilities increase are disconcerting. Even more worrisome in that context to the CARICOM member States is the reported growing frequency and severity of hydro-meteorological hazards.

Addressing the complexities of disasters and ending the cycles of vulnerabilities necessitate an integrated approach to disaster management that would include, as indicated in the Secretary-General's report contained in document A/61/85, disaster planning and preparedness, sustained assistance for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction, and the prioritization of risk reduction as a matter of urgency.

Towards that end, the World Summit Outcome set forth three broad areas to improve the United Nations humanitarian system. Without prejudice to the importance of progress at an even pace in all three areas, CARICOM has particular interest in the improvement of facilities for rapid access to funds in the initial phases of a humanitarian emergency and for ensuring equitable response to neglected emergencies or otherwise chronically underfunded emergencies.

As small island developing States with particular vulnerabilities to hurricanes, floods and earthquakes, our development itself is dependent upon the frequency and magnitude of such weather events. Yet international response to disasters that struck Grenada, Guyana, Haiti and Jamaica, to name a few, in the more recent past has been inadequate. It was therefore in that context that we welcomed the launching of the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) on 9 March as a means to ensure a more predictable and timely response to humanitarian emergencies and recognized the innovative grant element in the improved Fund.

CARICOM is pleased with the application of the Fund during the first six months since its launching. We note in particular the immediate disbursement of funds based on appeals for rapid response for situations in Africa, as well as the allocation of funds in underfunded crises.

In order to ensure that CERF remains an effective funding tool, its funds must be replenished. In that regard, CARICOM member States urge the transformation of pledges into firm funding commitments.

Secondly, it is important to recall the purpose of CERF as a mechanism of last resort and the complementary role it plays to humanitarian appeals mechanisms and emergency funds by individual agencies. In that regard, CARICOM notes that the Fund has been able to complement other humanitarian funding arrangements, especially with assistance to the World Food Programme, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Population Fund and other entities in filling unmet needs and supporting life-saving programmes. Consequently, in light of the role of the Fund, as stated in the report of the Secretary-General, donor funding to CERF must be additional to donors' response to emergency funds and to appeals from agencies.

CARICOM member States take this opportunity to recall the important function of the Advisory Group, as established pursuant to resolution 60/124, to provide advice to the Secretary-General on the use and impact of the Central Emergency Response Fund. We commend the Advisory Group's work thus far and note its report of 12 October 2006 on the use and management of CERF. CARICOM also endorses the Advisory Group's recommendation that Member States make every effort to achieve as soon as possible the $500-million target established by the General Assembly and welcomes the advocacy role the Group intends to undertake for the early attainment of that target. CARICOM further encourages the highest level of participation, as possible, at the forthcoming donor conference for the Fund on 7 December.

In 1991, CARICOM member States established a disaster management programme to coordinate disaster response and management at the regional level. The functions of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) include providing information to interested organizations on disasters affecting the region; disaster mitigation; establishing and maintaining, on a sustainable basis, adequate disaster response capabilities among CARICOM States; and mobilizing and coordinating disaster relief.

CARICOM member States appreciate the ongoing support of the international community with respect to disaster mitigation. We make particular mention of the recent donation by the Government of Turkey that regional initiative in the sum of $400,000 to CDERA for the support of the wider Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) programme in the region. That donation was timely, as it brought flexibility to supporting gaps in CDM resources and will be utilized to support country programming, among other activities.

We also welcome the conclusion of a Financing Agreement for Institutional Support and Capacity Building for Disaster Management in the Caribbean between the European Union and the Caribbean Forum. The 3.4 million project is intended to strengthen and increase CDERA'S effectiveness and to improve its coordination within the region; review and revise existing disaster management legislation with a view to establishing appropriate legislation where needed; set up and support national awareness and management campaigns in collaboration with government agencies, non-governmental organizations and other parties working in that area; and increase the use of information and communications technologies for emergency planning, thereby making the comprehensive disaster management programme more effective and its capacity enhanced for management and related teaching and research through exchange studies and other research in that field.

CARICOM believes that the assistance rendered by the Financing Agreement will doubtless serve not only to strengthen CDERA, and by extension the human resource capacity of the region, but even more to underwrite our economic and social development.

CARICOM is well aware that the future success of the Fund is dependent on the will and support of Member States in increasing their contributions in order to meet the three-year target of $500 million endorsed by the General Assembly. As the theme for the sixty-first session -- "Implementing a global partnership for development" -- reminds us, we must all work together and support each other in all areas possible.

Mr. Nikitov (Ukraine)

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the States members of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM), namely, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

At the outset, we would like to thank the Secretariat for the report submitted under agenda item 69.

The past year was marked by a continuing rise in the number of large-scale disasters and affected populations. Recent humanitarian crises have demonstrated the overall capability of the humanitarian community to launch a massive response when called upon. However, it is quite obvious that the quality of such a response still needs further improvement. Humanitarian response does not always meet the basic needs of affected populations in a timely way; it varies considerably from crisis to crisis, and current capacity levels are not always sufficient to meet the demands of major emergencies occurring at the same time. While some of the factors affecting response are specific to individual crises, some of the key challenges seem to be systematic in nature.

The GUAM States believe that the further strengthening of the current international humanitarian response system and improving the coordination of humanitarian assistance, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access, as well as flexible and predictable emergency funding, are key issues.

At the national level, institutional capacity-building and support for national efforts in strengthening humanitarian response capacities, including through sharing best practices and expertise and establishing national contingency plans, are critical for proper disaster preparedness and response.

Better coordination by the United Nations of international efforts on the ground is needed in order to avoid unnecessary duplication and to increase the efficiency of the Organization. The humanitarian skills and capabilities of both humanitarian and resident coordinators in countries at risk of natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies should be further developed and upgraded.

Humanitarian assistance and funding should not be limited to providing immediate response to crises, but must take into account long-term needs in the transition phase. The capacity gaps of the United Nations coordination mechanisms in the transition space have to be adequately addressed to ensure efficient response to transition needs.

We therefore welcome the continued efforts of the United Nations humanitarian system to further improve and strengthen the coordination of humanitarian response. We believe that the cluster leadership approach is a step forward towards improving predictability, accountability and the effectiveness of humanitarian response. The timely and predictable funding of cluster-related activities at both the global and country levels is critical to the effectiveness of that approach.

Looking back at the developments of the past year, one should recognize the persistence of serious humanitarian challenges. Restricted humanitarian access, non-compliance with international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles, and continued attacks on humanitarian workers can be mentioned once again in that regard, but it is more disturbing that such humanitarian concerns as the spread of HIV/AIDS, sexual exploitation and the abuse of civilians in humanitarian crises have loomed large.

The GUAM States are concerned by the alarming spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in humanitarian crises, which further amplifies the suffering of civilian populations. It is particularly discouraging that, coupled with famine and natural disasters, HIV/AIDS is driving ever-larger sectors of nations towards destitution. Efforts to address the problem could be more successful if reinforced by concrete action on the part of Member States, particularly through the development of national strategies that address the spread of HIV among humanitarian workers and international peacekeepers.

Speaking on the transition from relief to development, we cannot but refer to the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. Now, 20 years after the tragic accident, the impact of that catastrophe on the lives of millions of affected people continues to pose an enormous challenge in the region.

We attach special significance to the role of the United Nations in strengthening the international response to the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe. We thank the delegations that took part in a special plenary meeting in spring this year in the framework of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly to honour the victims of the Chernobyl disaster and to raise public awareness about the long-term consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe. We appreciate the contribution made by all Member States and organizations of the United Nations system, as well as representatives of civil society, the private sector and the donor community to the development of cooperation to mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.

Mr. Al-Shamsi (United Arab Emirates)

It gives me pleasure to extend to you, Madam, and to the members of the Bureau, sincere gratitude and appreciation for your efforts in guiding our work at this meeting. I would also like to express our appreciation to the Secretary-General for his important reports under this agenda item.

The loss of life and the destruction caused by natural disasters and conflicts during the past few years, in both developing and developed countries, and the universally sympathetic response and provision of assistance to those countries, confirm, beyond any doubt, the need for effective international solidarity and cooperation in confronting the aftermath of disasters and containing their destructive effects, as well as in alleviating the suffering of the affected persons and assisting them in resuming their normal lives as soon as possible. In this context, the United Arab Emirates emphasizes the central role of the United Nations in the strengthening of the coordination of long-term humanitarian and disaster relief assistance. We greatly value the efforts made by the Organization and all those working in the field of humanitarian assistance and relief.

In this regard, we would like to reaffirm the importance of implementing the recommendations of international conferences on the coordination of international efforts to elaborate an international strategy to deal with natural disasters at every stage, from early warning to relief assistance, rebuilding and development, as well as to adopt appropriate measures to assist poor countries in building their national capacities to deal with natural disasters and the consequences of war.

The United Arab Emirates is one of the largest contributors in the field of humanitarian and relief assistance in emergencies, as well as in terms of long-term assistance in all areas of the world. It provides assistance through donations, in cash and in kind, most of which goes to the affected countries through direct bilateral arrangements between them and the United Arab Emirates. The United Arab Emirates also fulfils its financial commitments to the United Nations bodies concerned with humanitarian and relief assistance and development activities, such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other development bodies of the Organization. The United Arab Emirates has pledged to give $1.038 million to those bodies in 2007.

In May 2006, in order to support the coordination of international efforts in this field, the United Arab Emirates joined the donor partnership group and the donor support group within the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, whose membership comprises the most active donor countries in the humanitarian field.

In support of international efforts to respond to natural disasters, the United Arab Emirates established Dubai Humanitarian City to provide facilities and integrated services to national and international humanitarian organizations. It has always attached great importance to enhancing the capabilities of affected countries to respond effectively to disasters and to supporting their efforts, including research, aimed at enhancing their ability to predict natural disasters and contain their consequences, while strengthening the infrastructure of those countries.

To reduce the harmful effects of climate change on the environment around the world, the United Arab Emirates has ratified the Kyoto Protocol to limit global warming and greenhouse emissions. We have also ratified the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer. The United Arab Emirates has adopted a national strategy to implement those instruments.

During the period 2004-2006, the Government of the United Arab Emirates, working with the Emirates Red Crescent Authority, contributed about $775 million to support and enhance international efforts to assist tsunami victims, as well as the victims of the earthquake that hit Pakistan and southern India, Hurricane Katrina, which struck the United States of America, and the earthquake that took place in Indonesia in May, 2006. Part of those donations were also provided for the reconstruction of countries affected by conflict, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Lebanon. By September 2006, the Red Crescent Authority of the United Arab Emirates had spent more than $275 million on humanitarian and relief projects in 100 countries throughout the world. In September 2006, the United Arab Emirates pledged to resume the Emirates Solidarity Project for demining in southern Lebanon.

The United Arab Emirates attaches great importance to supporting and assisting the Palestinian people and Government and to alleviating the suffering of the people during the humanitarian crisis caused by the brutal assault on them by the Israeli occupation forces. United Arab Emirates donations to the Palestinians in the period 2000-2005 amounted to $829 million. Those funds are in addition to other humanitarian assistance provided through the relevant United Nations agencies to meet their immediate livelihood needs and to rebuild the cities destroyed by the savage Israeli assault.

Furthermore, in July 2005 the United Arab Emirates allocated $100 million to construct the city of Khalifa bin Zayed on the ruins of the evacuated Israeli settlements in Gaza. Relief and services projects in Palestine carried out by the United Arab Emirates Red Crescent Authority have exceeded $122 millions dollars, in addition to other assistance in kind.

The United Arab Emirates is deeply concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories resulting from the economic, political and military blockade imposed by the Israeli occupying forces -- a blockade that has denied people access to humanitarian and economic assistance. The massacres, the collective punishment, the incursions into cities and villages, the confiscation of farmland and water resources, the destruction of property and the construction of the expansionist separation wall, have all led to the death and disabling of thousands of civilians and to the internal displacement of thousands more. Huge losses have been inflicted on the economy, as a result of which more than two thirds of the people now live below the poverty line, while half of the children suffer from diseases related to malnutrition. This situation is in danger of developing into a serious humanitarian disaster.

We call upon the United Nations, especially the Security Council, to fulfil its responsibility for the protection of the Palestinian people and to compel Israel, the occupying Power, to stop its acts of aggression and its other crimes immediately; to lift its blockade of the occupied Palestinian territories; and to halt the construction of the illegal expansionist wall and dismantle those parts that have already been constructed, in compliance with the international legality and the principles of international humanitarian law. Further, it should resume the peace negotiations on the basis of the relevant international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative adopted at the Beirut Summit.

Mr. Al-Shamsi (United Arab Emirates)

We further emphasize the need for UNRWA to continue to discharge its responsibility to provide services to refugees in all of its areas of operation and the need to continue financial support for the regular and urgent activities and programmes of the Agency. We further urge donor countries to resume their assistance to the Palestinian people and Government in order to alleviate their suffering until an end is put to the Israeli occupation of their land and until the establishment of an independent State of Palestine, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Mr. Sen (India)

We would like to thank the Secretary-General for the reports that have been prepared for the discussions under this agenda item. We also thank the Under-Secretary-General, Mr. Jan Egeland, for the introduction of the reports. We appreciate the candid approach adopted in the report that identifies areas for improvement even as it describes positive developments.

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) was launched in March this year to address the concern regarding the allocation and availability of resources for humanitarian assistance and to enable the United Nations to provide timely humanitarian assistance evenly across emergencies. India strongly supported that initiative out of its conviction that through this reform measure, the United Nations would be better positioned to assist developing countries in their hour of need in the aftermath of a disaster. India demonstrated solidarity with the international efforts aimed at addressing the needs of developing countries for emergency humanitarian assistance through pledging a contribution of $2 million to CERF at its launch in New York, half of which has already been disbursed.

As promised by the Secretary-General, detailed information on the use of CERF has been provided to Member States. The report indicates that CERF has made good progress towards its objectives of promoting early action and response to reduce loss of life and of enhancing United Nations humanitarian assistance to time-critical needs in the aftermath of disasters and in underfunded emergencies.

We note that the Emergency Relief Coordinator has focused on the need for the timely allocation and disbursement of CERF funds. We also note with satisfaction that despite the fact that its implementation is at an early stage, CERF has enabled humanitarian assistance to be made available within 72 hours. We encourage the Emergency Relief Coordinator to continue efforts to address administrative delays and streamline application processes. While appreciating the need for completing the requisite paperwork prior to disbursement of funds, there is a need for balance so that developing countries are not burdened by excessive paper work at a time when the capacities of their authorities are stretched in coping with the aftermath of a disaster.

We have perused with interest the note on the meeting of the CERF Advisory Group held in Geneva in October 2006. We note that the Advisory Group made some substantive recommendations for further improvements, such as through the consideration of an umbrella letter of understanding, delegation of authority and development of additional standardized templates. The Advisory Group also emphasized the importance of a field-driven approach. We would suggest that the recommendations of the Advisory Group, including those related to the decision to undertake field visits to implementation sites, be examined by the Emergency Relief Coordinator and his recommendations brought to the Member States for their consideration.

India is committed to the Guiding Principles for the provision of humanitarian assistance contained in the annex to resolution 46/182. We believe that humanitarian assistance must be provided in accordance with the principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality. We recall that the Guiding Principles enjoin that sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity of States must be fully respected and that humanitarian assistance should be provided with the consent of the affected country and in principle on the basis of an appeal by the affected country.

In that context, we are concerned at the recommendations of the report on humanitarian access, which are not in line with the scope of the Guiding Principles of resolution 46/182. We have been encouraged by the achievements that the United Nations has made through the establishment of CERF. Those gains can be consolidated and built upon by retaining the neutrality and non-political character of humanitarian assistance. The International Committee of the Red Cross commentary on the Fourth Geneva Convention describes "humanitarian" as "being concerned with the condition of man considered solely as a human being, regardless of his value as a military, political, professional or other unit" and "not ... affected by any political or military consideration".

Country ownership is crucial, and this should be genuine and not disingenuous. Humanitarian assistance is aimed at relieving immediate suffering only, and therefore ensuring all of this should be relatively easier.

The report appears to project the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement as standards for countries to follow. The Guiding Principles were developed on the basis of experience of massive displacement in war and conflict situations. The Secretary-General's reports in the past have acknowledged that adequately assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs) requires knowledge and understanding of the specific context in which the disaster occurred. India believes that well-functioning and stable Governments with strong national and legal institutions can and do take care of their IDPs. They are also best placed to understand their own national context and legislative requirements.

The report recommends the strengthening of local, national and regional capacities for preparing for and responding to humanitarian emergencies. India has strengthened its disaster preparedness and response capacity over the past several years. The aftermath of the tsunami disaster further spurred those efforts. The Disaster Management Act 2005 envisages a holistic and comprehensive approach to disaster management with a greater focus on prevention, mitigation, preparedness and capacity-building. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), chaired by the Prime Minister, has been created with a provision for similar organizational arrangements at the state and district levels. Some states have already taken action in that regard.

The NDMA has formed core groups to formulate strategy and guidelines to mitigate the effects of disasters such as earthquakes, cyclones, floods, and chemical and industrial disasters. The Disaster Risk Management Project is being implemented jointly with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 169 districts with high vulnerability to natural disasters and includes the important elements of community preparedness and community capacity-building. The process of the creation of disaster-response teams for providing a specialized response has started, and equipment and training needs are being considered.

The political economy of humanitarian assistance is, of course, broader, touching on ethical issues such as the principle of negative action, which states that not doing enough and letting death and disaster happen is as bad as actually inflicting death and disaster, and economic development, because it is the poor that often bear the brunt of natural disasters, science and technology.

In India, satellite-based early-warning systems have greatly mitigated, if not eliminated, the consequences of cyclones, and we hope they will do the same in connection with any future tsunamis. We have always been prepared to share that technology with developing countries.

We note that, as desired by Member States, the report recommends other areas for improving the delivery of United Nations humanitarian assistance, including through the improvement of United Nations coordination activities at the field level. The report cites the cluster leadership approach as an effort in that direction and recommends that at the country level, cluster lead agencies should collaborate closely with Government partners. We believe that there is a need for further information on and an understanding of this approach, especially from the perspective of the receiving countries where this approach has been implemented so far.

In keeping with the basic principles that guide the work of the United Nations at the country level, we recommend that this approach be implemented at the country level with the consent and under the leadership of the national Government of the affected State. An evaluation of the effectiveness of the cluster approach in enhancing coordination among United Nations agencies, taking into account the financial costs incurred in implementing the approach and incorporating the inputs of the affected States, should be presented to Member States. We agree with the Secretary-General that the cluster approach can be considered only as a first step and not as a solution.

We are happy that the report has devoted considerable attention to the issue of chronically underfunded emergencies. We note that the report recommends the development of indicators for humanitarian assistance. We recommend that the issue be discussed carefully at the intergovernmental level, in the first instance.

Mr. Shinyo (Japan)

First of all, Japan welcomes the ongoing efforts to achieve reform in the humanitarian sector, which will make for more effective provision of humanitarian assistance and protection of those in need. We commend Under-Secretary-General Egeland and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for the work they have done, together with other humanitarian partners, to improve the predictability and effectiveness of humanitarian activities. Japan, together with the rest of the international community, will continue to do its utmost to promote humanitarian reform.

We welcome the establishment of the Central Emergency Response Fund and also the positive and concrete results of its efforts to realize the objectives described in the resolution of the General Assembly last year. Enlargement of the donor base is another positive outcome since the establishment of the Fund. For example, the Government of Hyogo prefecture in Japan has committed itself to contributing 100 million yen to the Fund. Outreach to local governments and civil society leads to enhancement of capacity to deal with humanitarian issues. The Government of Japan, therefore, will continue to support such efforts.

It is essential to properly review the Central Emergency Response Fund in order to help it to respond to humanitarian crises more effectively. We need to do so in a more comprehensive and systematic manner, including by examining the challenges and problems the Fund faces. For example, what contribution does the Fund make towards reinforcing the existing process of providing humanitarian assistance, involving, as it does, instruments such as the Consolidated Appeal Process and flash appeals? We also need to clarify the criteria for resource allocation, especially in an underfunded emergency window.

One of the challenges the Fund faces, as clearly described in the report of the Secretary-General, is the improvement of the speed with which it makes disbursements, so that the Fund can become an effective mechanism for providing assistance in emergencies. Japan wishes to join in any constructive efforts to achieve that goal.

We would like to express our support for the cluster approach, one of the pillars of humanitarian reform. It is a useful method for strengthening response capacity, increasing the effectiveness of multilateral humanitarian assistance and improving coordination. Although there is much to be done, we are glad to hear from many in the field that the approach has worked, in the follow-up to the earthquake in Pakistan and in other humanitarian crises.

The cluster approach is also useful in addressing the issue of internally displaced persons, as long as there is no international organization with a clear mandate to deal with this problem. Here again, we would appreciate a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness and challenges of the cluster approach to be followed. We need consultation and information exchange on the ground between all relevant humanitarian actors, on the one hand, and strong leadership to implement this approach effectively, on the other. This is also a reason why Japan supports OCHA's ongoing efforts to strengthen the role and function of humanitarian coordinators. We believe that decentralization of authority, to be achieved by giving humanitarian coordinators stronger mandates, should be explored in this context.

Disaster reduction is an essential pillar of sustainable development and is, therefore, one of the issues that is vitally important for the United Nations to address. Even in the short time that has passed since the World Conference on Disaster Reduction was held in Kobe in January 2005, massive disasters have struck in many places, including Pakistan, the Philippines and Java in Indonesia, demonstrating the urgent need to implement the Hyogo Framework for Action.

The new facility launched by the World Bank on disaster reduction will certainly facilitate implementation of the Hyogo Framework, and we therefore welcome it. We strongly believe that the Hyogo Framework will be even more fully implemented once components of International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) become stronger. We support the clear recommendation in the recent report of the Secretary-General's High-Level Panel, entitled "Delivering as One", that the United Nations' efforts on risk reduction need to be urgently enhanced, through full implementation and funding of international agreements and other recent initiatives and the involvement of communities.

As a nation with extensive knowledge and technology relating to disaster reduction, Japan wishes to be actively involved in achieving a strengthened ISDR, and we intend to make contributions to the deliberations of its Programme Advisory Committee. Japan will share the experience, expertise and knowledge it has accumulated in Kobe, where there are many organizations specializing in disaster-related activities and working with countries in Asia and beyond.

We commend humanitarian personnel for carrying out their difficult responsibilities under often severe crisis conditions. We must do everything we can to ensure the safety of these individuals. We also wish to underline the importance of ensuring unhindered access to affected people for the purpose of providing them with assistance. In order to assist people in need, Japan, in conjunction with the rest of the international community, will continue to join actively in efforts to strengthen coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance.

Mr. Chulkov (Russia)

This year has been very important for the international humanitarian community. The international community has shown its resolve to improve the global mechanism of humanitarian response and bring it to a qualitatively new level of operation. We are glad that this work, as can be seen from the report of the Secretary-General, yielded the desired results. In this context, we wish to point to the role of the Secretariat, in particular the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), headed by its leader, Mr. Egeland.

Through joint efforts, member countries succeeded in reinforcing our disaster response capacity. We have reinforced the mechanism of humanitarian coordination, first of all, in the field. In our view, the assignment of the relevant authority to the United Nations resident humanitarian coordinator to coordinate the activities of the United Nations humanitarian agencies in the field is consistent with the task of achieving a more adequate humanitarian response. However, we also believe that the United Nations country teams should maintain close partnership with host Governments, especially because Governments have the responsibility, first and foremost, to take care of their citizens, including those in need, and have the primary role in establishing priorities in humanitarian response strategies.

The so-called cluster approach is an important element of improving the mechanism of response in the field. We should apply it carefully, taking into account local specifics and circumstances without automatic extension to other countries. The Secretariat has to consider the fact that its mandate in this area, given to it by the Member States, is to fill the gaps rather than clusterization in all areas.

We closely follow the establishment of the United Nations multidimensional integrated peacekeeping operations with humanitarian components. We support the Secretariat in its effort to preserve and defend the humanitarian space.

The qualitative improvement of the international humanitarian response resulted also in the creation of the Central Emergency Response Fund. We share the positive assessment by the Secretary-General of the first months of its work. We are satisfied by the way the reporting on fund expenditures is organized, which ensures transparency in its operation. We are looking forward to an independent biennial report on its work.

We have taken note of the Fund Advisory Group's recommendations on potential Fund allocations to support disaster reduction activities. We are not convinced that this approach is right, especially taking into account the existence and operation of a separate United Nations Trust Fund for Disaster Relief Assistance.

The international humanitarian response mechanism cannot be regarded as static even after such large-scale improvements. Statistical data show an increase in the frequency and gravity of large-scale natural and man-made disasters in the world with ever-greater consequences. This means that we should continue our efforts to maintain this mechanism at the appropriate level.

We continue to assign the key role in these efforts to the United Nations and its Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). We believe that OCHA should continue to pay priority attention to the fundamental principles of the provision of humanitarian assistance -- humanity, neutrality and impartiality, as well as the independence of humanitarian agencies. Moreover, none of these principles should prevail over others. On the contrary, only the comprehensive and consistent implementation of these principles in humanitarian activities can bring about, in our view, the best possible results in providing assistance to those in need.

At present, it is increasingly evident that we need to be able to forecast disaster emergencies and prepare in advance. We support the measures to strengthen the mechanisms of planning and preparedness for emergencies triggered by disasters. It is necessary to build up the national systems of early warning, damage assessment and disaster mitigation, as well as increase international cooperation in this field. We assign the key role in this area to the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. We believe it is necessary to intensify international cooperation so as to achieve the objectives of the Strategy and the final documents of the World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe.

In conclusion, to pursue a point that my colleague from Ukraine was making, this year is a significant one for the peoples of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Last April we marked the twentieth anniversary of the tragic accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which was the largest man-made catastrophe in terms of its scope, complexity and consequences. On 28 April 2006, the United Nations General Assembly held a Special Commemorative Meeting in observance of this tragic date. This significant event in the history of the United Nations marked a new stage in the development of international cooperation on Chernobyl, in the strengthening of which the United Nations should continue to play a particularly catalytic and coordinating role. We express our deep gratitude to all Member States for their solidarity; we regard it as a token of successful cooperation in this area for the future.

Mr. Maurer (Switzerland)

Switzerland attaches great importance to the intergovernmental discussions and negotiations on the strengthening of the coordination of United Nations humanitarian aid in the framework of the General Assembly.

For several years now Switzerland has advocated greater complementarity between this work and that of the humanitarian segment of the Economic and Social Council substantive session. At this stage, we believe that positive results have been achieved, which is encouraging for the future efforts in this area. We invite Member States to pursue, with the support of the Secretariat, the discussions aimed at reallocating the humanitarian issues dealt with by the General Assembly.

Switzerland is pleased with the improvements to the emergency response capacity of the United Nations system and with the fact that increased attention is now being paid to international humanitarian coordination. For Switzerland, each key component of the international humanitarian system -- the United Nations, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) -- contributes to the common goal of saving lives and of alleviating suffering when it has not been possible to prevent it. We call for greater cooperation between humanitarian actors in order to increase effectiveness.

At the same time we wish to stress that humanitarian action must be based on realistic assessments of the needs for protection and assistance of all the persons affected -- without any distinction and in accordance with humanitarian principles -- as well as on the known capacity of all the national and international actors on the ground. We would like to reiterate that the primary responsibility for protecting and assisting internally displaced persons lies with the Governments concerned, which can refer to the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. The relevance of these principles was reaffirmed by the heads of State and Government at the 2005 World Summit.

Switzerland stresses the primacy of civil organizations in the implementation of humanitarian aid, in particular in zones affected by conflicts. We invite Member States to make use of the existing instruments governing civil-military cooperation in crisis situations. We thank the Norwegian Government for taking the initiative, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), to call a high-level meeting on 27 November 2006 in Oslo, to advocate for the effective implementation of the 1994 Guidelines on the Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets in Disaster Relief, which have now been updated.

As the Secretary-General rightly underlines in his report, preparedness capacities for natural disasters must be strengthened, both at the community level in collaboration with all parties concerned and at the national, regional and international levels, in accordance with the Hyogo Framework for Action. Switzerland is pleased with the efforts initiated by the Secretariat, with the support of partner organizations of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, to strengthen, for the long term, the humanitarian coordinator system, which is the cornerstone of increased United Nations effectiveness and credibility at the field level.

Lastly, with regard to the gender dimension in emergency situations, we are pleased to note the forthcoming publication of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee gender handbook.

Mr. Miller (United States)

There has been much activity and much progress in the realm of humanitarian reform this year, in particular through the refinement and implementation of the cluster approach, the further strengthening of the humanitarian coordinator system and the establishment of the expanded Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

The United States supports the cluster approach, which strengthens United Nations leadership through the formal assignment of coordination roles for humanitarian activity. That approach has helped to address some critical and long-standing gaps in coordination. We would like to stress the importance of broad participation and inclusiveness in the cluster system. We hope that non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations, donors and host Governments will all be welcome at the coordination table. We hope that ongoing intergovernmental discussion can help clarify the value of the cluster approach, which can, if implemented thoughtfully, enhance humanitarian services by instituting both predictability and accountability.

Protracted civil conflicts continue to create some of the largest situations of forced displacement in our era. One of the most significant and long-standing gaps in humanitarian response concerns the protection of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The cluster lead initiative aims to address the United Nations role in that regard, most significantly by assigning an overall IDP protection role to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The United States supports that new role.

Another important pillar of the reform effort involves the selection and training of humanitarian coordinators. This is a critical element for strengthening the United Nations humanitarian system, and it has received insufficient attention. We recognize that it is a complicated issue involving a range of United Nations agencies, but we encourage the Emergency Relief Coordinator to continue to work for substantial improvements in this area.

The United States also understands the critical need for the efficient deployment of humanitarian personnel in response to crises, and we therefore agree in principle with the recommendation to establish more effective standby arrangements. We look forward to more details regarding the proposed method to enhance standby capacities. We are willing to share our experience in this area with the United Nations system and with other Member States.

There is no doubt that the expanded CERF is an effective tool for rapid response to humanitarian emergencies, and that the Fund provides a valuable avenue for the participation of additional donors. We are less sure about CERF's value in addressing underfunded emergencies. We need clearer definitions and the development of criteria to govern disbursements in that area. An allocation system based on the percentages of funding received for each United Nations appeal is inadequate. Not all appeals fully reflect the range of humanitarian activity, and some are not limited to emergency response. While it may be interesting to make a comparison of needs across humanitarian crises, we must not neglect the range of complex issues that impact vulnerability.

The United States is also concerned about discussions that cite a need for greater equity of resources as a goal of humanitarian assistance. That contradicts the fundamental premise that humanitarian action is based on need. We support the strengthening and standardizing of methodologies to assess humanitarian needs, but we caution against attempting to compare needs and vulnerability across crises. It is widely accepted in the humanitarian community that it is not appropriate to establish universal standards of vulnerability. It is also important to clarify that standards of delivery, such as those established by the Sphere Project, are not necessarily linked to resource allocation. The cost of aid in one context cannot be compared to another without a complete analysis of a wide range of factors.

The capacity of the United Nations and other humanitarian actors on the ground to conduct sound analysis and to effectively deliver humanitarian assistance is critical to success. However, without full and unhindered access for humanitarian actors, even the most robust response efforts will fail to meet emergency needs. Deliberate attacks on humanitarian workers have become a significant impediment to life-saving aid in many crises. We must work to guarantee the safety and security of relief workers.

In conclusion, I want to reaffirm the strong support of the United States for the core humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. These provide a foundation for international humanitarian work, and must continue to guide our efforts, especially as we strive to address the range of challenges we face today.

Mr. Campbell (Australia)

The international humanitarian community is increasingly confronted with complex and changing crises. In response we must work to increase the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance and to accurately measure its impact. There is a moral and operational imperative to maximize the impact of humanitarian assistance. We should be able to demonstrate that we are doing so.

Australia supports the central and unique role of the United Nations in providing leadership and coordination of international humanitarian action. We were pleased that the report of the Secretary-General's High-level Panel on United Nations System-wide Coherence underlined the importance of the role of the United Nations in humanitarian action and gave greater impetus to the humanitarian reform agenda. The humanitarian reform agenda, led by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), has an integral role to play in improving humanitarian response capacity, coordination and financing. Australia supports those efforts and commends the progress in improving United Nations coordination and enhancing the impact of humanitarian assistance. But there is still work to be done to continue to improve effectiveness and to address key challenges associated with humanitarian action. I would like to highlight a few areas where Australia believes we must continue to focus our collective efforts.

The humanitarian coordinator system is a critical part of the reform agenda. We have joined others in calling for the humanitarian coordinator system to be made stronger, and we wish to acknowledge the changes and improvements that have been made. We encourage OCHA to continue to develop the system, including through the selection and training of humanitarian coordinators and resident coordinators. It is important that the cadre of people available for deployment be further developed and deepened; in doing this we encourage active efforts to improve the gender balance of the pool.

Steps to improve the response capacity of the United Nations system and of individual agencies in key sectors are also important. In that regard, we welcome the development of the cluster leadership approach and were pleased to contribute to the global cluster appeal. While there is still work to be done to develop the cluster approach, we have seen the positive impact it can have -- for example, in the response to earthquakes in Pakistan and Yogyakarta. The cluster approach is also a useful mechanism to address major shortcomings in response capacity globally. We urge OCHA and others in the humanitarian community to continue to strengthen the cluster approach.

Financing is also an important pillar of the humanitarian reform agenda. The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has had a positive impact on humanitarian response. Australia provided $A10 million to CERF, and we are pleased with the results delivered so far. However, there is still work to be done to improve procedures and to strengthen comparative-needs assessment between underfunded emergencies. We encourage OCHA to continue to strengthen CERF and to broaden its donor base, including by attracting private donors and contributions from a wide range of Member States.

Australia strongly supports the efforts by OCHA to build partnerships with, and within, the broader humanitarian community. In our view, partnerships are now a fourth pillar of the humanitarian reform agenda. We believe the forum held in July to bring together all humanitarian actors was an important step. The agreements that arose from it were positive. We look forward to hearing more about how they are to be taken forward and about the impact that stronger partnerships will have on humanitarian preparedness and response. We would add that military and civilian police relationships are also important in humanitarian response, and efforts should be made to strengthen coordination with those actors.

Violence continues to be deliberately directed against civilian populations and aid workers in emergency situations. That will not be stopped without the full support of the United Nations and its Member States. In particular, it is of grave concern to Australia that gender-based violence continues to be a real and significant problem during, and in the aftermath of, humanitarian emergencies. We call on the United Nations to strengthen its resolve to combat gender-based violence. It is vital that we focus the necessary resources and efforts on preventing and prosecuting gender-based violence, alongside working to address the causes of such violence. We urge all Member States to ensure that their national laws and judicial and community mechanisms are adequate to prevent, address, promptly investigate and prosecute gender-based violence, and to support the victims of such acts.

Before I conclude, I would like to express Australia's appreciation to Under-Secretary-General Jan Egeland for the work he has done over the past three years at the helm of OCHA and as Emergency Relief Coordinator. While Mr. Egeland will no doubt be looking forward to new challenges, we believe he can reflect with pride on his achievements and on the impact he has had on bringing humanitarian assistance to those in need and on strengthening the system to respond. On behalf of the Australian Government, I would like to convey my sincere congratulations to Mr. Egeland for his outstanding contribution to the United Nations system and to international development. We wish him well for the future.

Finally, let me reiterate Australia's strong support for the current humanitarian reform agenda. The reforms are beginning to demonstrate their potential, and our challenge is to ensure that over the coming years that potential is realized. We must ensure that the momentum and progress achieved thus far are sustained, and we must look to other ways that we can continue to improve the impact of humanitarian assistance.

Mr. Mahjoub (Sudan)

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