The General Assembly,
 
      Recalling its resolutions 44/236 of 22 December 1989, 48/188 of 21
December 1993, 49/22 A of 2 December 1994 and 49/22 B of 20 December 1994,
 
      Expressing its solidarity with the people and countries that suffer as a
result of natural disasters,
 
      Emphasizing once again the urgent need for concrete measures to reduce
the vulnerability of societies to natural hazards, the loss of human lives and
the heavy physical and economic damage that occur as a result of natural
disasters, in particular in developing countries, small island States and
land-locked countries,
 
      Reiterating the validity of the conclusions of the first World
Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction, held at Yokohama, Japan, from 23 to
27 May 1994, in particular with regard to its call for increased bilateral,
subregional, regional and multilateral cooperation in the field of disaster
prevention, preparedness and mitigation,
 
      Commending those countries, national and local institutions,
organizations and associations that have adopted policies, allocated resources
and initiated action programmes, including international assistance, for
disaster reduction and, in this context, welcoming the participation of
private companies and individuals,
 
      Commending all countries and intergovernmental and regional
organizations that have actively engaged in regional and subregional
assessments of vulnerability to natural hazards and have consequently
initiated regional and subregional cooperation in the field of disaster
reduction, including the exchange of data and technology, as well as the
development of joint administrative, technological and scientific approaches
for applied disaster reduction,
 
      Commending those organizations of the United Nations system and other
international organizations, scientific associations and non-governmental
organizations which, in accordance with decisions of their governing bodies,
have incorporated the recommendations of the General Assembly relating to
disaster reduction and those of the World Conference on Natural Disaster
Reduction in their programmes of work, thus contributing towards effective
progress in disaster reduction in their mandated responsibilities and
respective fields of activity, including the allocation of budgetary resources
for disaster reduction,
 
      1.    Takes note with appreciation of the report of the
Secretary-General concerning the specific measures for the implementation of
the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World:  Guidelines for Natural Disaster
Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of Action, and requests
the secretariat of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction to
continue to promote and monitor their translation into concrete activities, in
close cooperation with all bodies comprising the International Framework of
Action for the Decade, so as to ensure timely and effective implementation;
 
      2.    Commends those developing and least developed countries that have
mobilized domestic resources for disaster reduction activities and have
facilitated the effective implementation of such activities, and encourages
all developing countries concerned to continue in this direction;
 
      3.    Recommends that all countries, with appropriate support, continue
to study conventional and non-conventional ways and means of financing
disaster reduction measures, both at the national level and with respect to
subregional, regional and international technical cooperation;
 
      4.    Calls upon Member States, relevant intergovernmental bodies and
all others involved in the Decade to participate actively in the financial and
technical support of Decade activities, in order to ensure the implementation
of the International Framework of Action for the Decade, in particular with a
view to translating the Yokohama Strategy and the Plan of Action contained
therein into concrete disaster reduction programmes and activities;
 
      5.    Requests the Commission on Sustainable Development to pay
appropriate attention at its fourth session to the issue of disaster reduction
when considering the relevant chapters of Agenda 21 and of the Programme of
Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States;
 
      6.    Welcomes the measures proposed by the Secretary-General to bring
the International Framework of Action for the Decade into line with the
Yokohama Strategy and its Plan of Action, in order to provide disaster
reduction activities worldwide and regionally with authoritative and effective
programme guidance so as to ensure stronger cohesion of disaster reduction
programmes and the joint participation of concerned sectors in their
implementation;
 
      7.    Notes the initiative for an informal mechanism between the
secretariat of the Decade and Member States, intended to facilitate and
support the promotion of Decade activities and the regular exchange of
information between Governments, organizations of the United Nations system
and other organizations;
 
      8.    Welcomes, in pursuance of its resolution 49/22 A, the
restructuring of the Special High-Level Council and the Scientific and
Technical Committee for the Decade so that for the second half of the Decade
they will provide the necessary support to global, regional and national
policy and strategy development, public awareness-building and resource
mobilization, and at the same time provide links with the scientific community
and support the national committees for the Decade and national authorities in
their cooperative efforts to integrate disaster reduction programmes into
national activities for sustainable development;
 
      9.    Endorses the decision of the Secretary-General to extend until the
end of the Decade the mandate of the United Nations Steering Committee for the
Decade, established in pursuance of General Assembly resolutions 42/169 of 11
December 1987 and 44/236;
 
      10.   Emphasizes that effective and efficient coordination and servicing
of the above-mentioned components of the International Framework of Action for
the Decade require a financially and structurally stable secretariat of the
Decade, reporting to the Secretary-General through the Emergency Relief
Coordinator;
 
      11.   Decides, in pursuance of its resolution 49/22 A, to convene a
closing event of the Decade, through coordinated sectoral and cross-sectoral
meetings at all levels, in order to facilitate the full integration of
disaster reduction into the substantive efforts for sustainable development
and environmental protection by the year 2000;
 
      12.   Decides also that the secretariat of the Decade will serve as the
substantive secretariat for the preparation of the closing event of the
Decade, working with the full support of relevant bodies of the United Nations
Secretariat and drawing on the contributions of the organizations of the
United Nations system concerned, other international organizations and
Governments;
 
      13.   Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the availability of
resources for the preparatory process, including the necessary enhancement of
the capacity of the secretariat, and to appeal for additional voluntary
contributions to the Trust Fund for the Decade;
 
      14.   Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General
Assembly at its fifty-first session, through the Economic and Social Council,
a report on the implementation of the International Framework of Action for
the Decade;
 
      15.   Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General
Assembly at its fifty-first session a report containing proposals on how the
distinct programme and coordination capability of the secretariat of the
Decade might be enhanced so as to enable it to coordinate effectively the
activities of the Decade and the integration of natural disaster reduction
into the sustainable development process;
 
      16.   Decides to consider the question of the International Decade for
Natural Disaster Reduction at its fifty-first session, as a separate sub-item
under environmental questions related to the environment and sustainable
development.
 
 
                                         B
 
      The General Assembly,
 
      Reaffirming its resolutions 44/236 of 22 December 1989, 46/182 of 19
December 1991, 49/22 A of 2 December 1994 and 49/22 B of 20 December 1994,
 
      Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolutions 1995/47 A and B
of 27 July 1995,
 
      Concerned about the continued threat posed by natural disasters and
similar disasters with an adverse impact on vulnerable communities, including
their environments, particularly in developing countries,
 
      Concerned also about the continuing threat posed by natural disasters
and similar disasters with an adverse impact on the environment,
 
      Recalling the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World:  Guidelines for
Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, and Mitigation and its Plan of
Action, adopted by the World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction on 27
May 1994,
 
      Taking into account already existing early-warning capacities within the
United Nations system, in particular within the Department of Humanitarian
Affairs of the Secretariat, the United Nations Environment Programme, the
World Meteorological Organization, the World Health Organization and the Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,
 
      Conscious of the need to avoid duplication of work among United Nations
bodies dealing with early-warning capacities,
 
      Emphasizing that early warnings of impending natural disasters and
similar disasters with an adverse impact on the environment, linked to
effective disaster preparedness measures and their effective dissemination,
using, in particular, telecommunications, including broadcast services, are
key factors to successful disaster prevention and preparedness,
 
      Reaffirming that sustained economic growth and sustainable development
are essential for the prevention of and preparedness for natural disasters and
similar disasters with an adverse impact on the environment and that special
attention should be given to disaster prevention and preparedness by the
Governments concerned as well as by the international community,
 
      1.    Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on early-warning
capacities of the United Nations system with regard to natural disasters and
similar disasters with an adverse impact on the environment;
 
      2.    Commends the secretariat of the International Decade for Natural
Disaster Reduction, as part of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs of the
United Nations Secretariat, and all concerned agencies and organizations of
the United Nations system for the constructive inter-agency approach they have
applied, which has led to this initial overview and analysis of early-warning
concepts, capacities and gaps and to proposals for improvements in
coordination and capacity-building with regard to such disasters;
 
      3.    Requests the Scientific and Technical Committee of the Decade to
continue, within the scope of its work on early-warning capabilities, to
examine and study new scientific and experimental concepts and methodologies
for accurate and timely short-term forecasting of earthquakes, other natural
disasters and similar disasters with an adverse impact on the environment,
with a view to making recommendations on their applicability and development
in the context of international cooperation to improve preparedness for and
minimize the risks of such disasters;
 
      4.    Takes note of the conclusions and proposals made by the Secretary-
General in his report with respect to the improvement of early-warning
capabilities, better international coordination in their use, and more
effective and beneficial exchange of knowledge and technology;
 
      5.    Invites the Secretary-General, in particular, to facilitate,
within the existing International Framework of Action for the International
Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, an internationally concerted framework
for improvements in early-warning capacities by developing a concrete proposal
for an effective international mechanism on early warning, to include the
transfer of technologies related to early warning to developing countries,
under the auspices of the United Nations and as part of the implementation of
the International Framework, the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World and its
Plan of Action;
 
      6.    Also invites the Secretary-General to take the steps necessary to
make the early-warning data gathered under the United Nations auspices readily
available to the decision makers concerned at the international, national,
regional and subregional levels;
 
      7.    Encourages all Governments to undertake, with the full support of
the United Nations system, regular reviews of early-warning requirements and
capabilities at national and community levels, within the framework of the
development of national disaster reduction policies in order to enhance
protection of their national populations and assets;
 
      8.    Calls on the secretariat of the Decade to continue to facilitate a
concerted international approach to improvements in early-warning capacities
for natural disasters and similar disasters with an adverse impact on the
environment, within the process leading towards the closing event of the
Decade;
 
      9.    Recommends that donor countries give greater priority to disaster
prevention, preparedness and mitigation in their assistance programmes and
budgets, on either a bilateral or multilateral basis, including through
increasing contributions to the Trust Fund for the Decade, and promote and
facilitate the transfer of technologies related to early warning to developing
countries within the framework of the implementation of the Yokohama Strategy
and its Plan of Action;
 
      10.   Encourages improved efforts, in the context of international
technical assistance and cooperation within the framework of the
implementation of the Yokohama Strategy and its Plan of Action, towards
facilitating the availability of appropriate technology and reliable data,
along with the corresponding training, and access to network systems related
to early warning, particularly to developing countries;
 
      11.   Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly
at its fifty-second session on progress made in the implementation of the
present resolution.