UN General Assembly adopts draft resolutions to fortify lagging relief system

Three decades since it created the UN humanitarian system, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday adopted four draft resolutions to bolster "a beleaguered relief apparatus" struggling to help nearly 400 million people facing severe crises around the planet.

In his opening remarks, UNGA President Csaba Korosi said that a meeting on strengthening the coordination of emergency and humanitarian assistance of the UN "could not come at a more fitting moment," as the world today is in a permanent state of humanitarian crisis.

Referring to the Global Humanitarian Overview 2023 issued last week by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, he said the world is facing the highest number of violent conflicts since 1945 and 399 million people, the highest number ever, need humanitarian assistance.

The Central Emergency Response Fund is one of the fastest ways to scale up and provide sustained relief operations, when no other funding is available, he added.

The assembly then adopted the four humanitarian draft resolutions without a vote.

In adopting the 19-page resolution "Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations," the assembly reaffirms the principles of its landmark resolution 46/182 from December 1991, encouraging the international community to support member states' efforts to prepare for disasters.

The text also encourages the development of multi-hazard warning systems and recognition of the Central Emergency Response Fund's achievements.

According to the resolution "International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development," the assembly recognizes the relationship between emergency response, rehabilitation and development, as well as the need to ensure a smooth transition between the three stages.

By the terms of the resolution "Assistance to the Palestinian people," the assembly underlines the importance of emergency and humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip and the need to advance its reconstruction.

According to the terms of the fourth resolution "Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel," the assembly strongly condemns all acts of violence and threats against humanitarian, and calls upon states to scale up measures for more systematic monitoring, reporting and investigation of attacks.