General Assembly

Distr. GENERAL  

28 October 1988

ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH

                                                        A/RES/43/17
                                                        40th plenary meeting
                                                        28 October 1988
 
          Emergency assistance to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama
            and other countries affected by hurricane Joan
 
      The General Assembly,
 
      Recalling its resolutions 42/169 of 11 December 1987 on an international
 decade for natural disaster reduction and 35/56 of 5 December 1980, the annex
 to which contains the International Development Strategy for the Third United
 Nations Development Decade,
 
      Deeply concerned by the large number of afflicted persons and also by the
 destruction caused by hurricane Joan, which between 22 and 25 October 1988
 struck Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and other countries of the region,
 
      Aware of the efforts of the Governments and peoples of the region to save
 lives and alleviate the suffering of the victims of hurricane Joan,
 
      Aware also of the enormous effort that will be required to alleviate the
 grave situation caused by this natural disaster,
 
      Welcoming the prompt response of the Governments, the organs,
 organizations and specialized agencies of the United Nations system and also
 of the international and regional agencies, the non-governmental organizations
 and the private individuals that are providing emergency relief,
 
      Recognizing that the magnitude of the disaster and its medium- and
 long-term effects will require, as a complement to the efforts being made by
 the peoples and Governments of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and other
 countries of the region, a demonstration of international solidarity and
 humanitarian concern to trigger broad multilateral co-operation in order to
 meet the immediate emergency situation in the affected areas and initiate the
 process of reconstruction,
 
      1.   Expresses its solidarity and support to Nicaragua, Costa Rica,
 Panama and other countries of the region affected by the natural disaster;
 
      2.   Expresses its gratitude to all the States of the international
 community, the international agencies and the non-governmental organizations
 that are providing emergency relief to the affected countries;
 
      3.   Urges all the States of the international community, as a matter of
 urgency, to contribute generously to the relief, rehabilitation and
 reconstruction efforts in the affected areas;
 
      4.   Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the steps
 taken to co-ordinate and mobilize the relief, rehabilitation and
 reconstruction efforts;
 
      5.   Requests the Secretary-General, in close collaboration with the
 Governments of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and the affected countries of the
 region, and the international financial institutions, organs, organizations
 and specialized agencies of the United Nations system to assist those
 countries in mobilizing the additional financial resources necessary for the
 implementation of the medium- and long-term plans and programmes of
 rehabilitation and reconstruction.