17 December 1981

Implementation of the medium-term and long-term recovery and rehabilitation programme in the Sudano-Sahelian region

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 2816 (XXVI) of 14 December 1971, 2959 (XXVII) of 12 December 1972, 3054 (XXVIII) of 17 December 1973, 3253 (XXIX) of 4 December 1974, 3512 (XXX) of 15 December 1975, 31/180 of 21 December 1976, 32/159 of 19 December 1977, 33/133 of 19 December 1978, 34/16 of 9 November 1979 and 35/86 of 5 December 1980, as well as its resolution 35/69 of 5 December 1980,

Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolutions 1918 (LVIII) of 5 May 1975, 2103 (LXIII) of 3 August 1977, 1978/37 of 21 July 1978, 1979/51 of 2 August 1979, 1980/51 of 23 July 1980 and 1981/55 of 22 July 1981,

Taking note of decision 81/5 of 19 June 1981 of the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme concerning the implementation of the medium-term and long-term recovery and rehabilitation programme in the Sudano-Sahelian region,

Noting with satisfaction the decisive role played by the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office in helping to combat the effects of the drought and to implement the medium-term and long-term recovery and rehabilitation programme adopted by the States members of the Permanent Inter-State Committee on Drought Control in the Sahel, and in mobilizing the necessary resources to finance priority projects,

Considering that the nature and magnitude of the needs of the countries of the Sudano-Sahelian region, which are among the least developed countries, urgently call for the continuation and further strengthening of actions of solidarity by the international community in support of the recovery efforts and the economic development of those countries,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the medium-term and long-term recovery and rehabilitation programme in the Sudano-Sahelian region,

1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the medium-term and long-term recovery and rehabilitation programme in the Sudano-Sahelian region;

2. Expresses its gratitude to the Governments, agencies of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations, private organizations and individuals that have contributed to the implementation of the medium-term and long-term recovery and rehabilitation programme in the Sudano-Sahelian region;

3. Strongly urges all Governments to make special efforts to increase the resources of the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office, including voluntary contributions through the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities, as well as other, bilateral channels, so as to enable it to respond more fully to the priority requirements of the Governments of the States members of the Permanent Inter-State Committee on Drought Control in the Sahel;

4. Requests all organs, agencies and programmes of the United Nations system to continue and increase their assistance through joint undertakings with the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office, in response to requests from the Governments of the Sudano-Sahelian countries, for the implementation of their recovery, rehabilitation and development programmes;

5. Invites the Secretary-General to pursue further the consultations envisaged in paragraph 5 of Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/51, with a view to working out specific arrangements for joint undertakings between the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office and the appropriate organs, agencies and programmes of the United Nations system;

6. Commends the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme for the results achieved through the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office in assisting the States members of the Permanent Inter-State Committee on Drought Control in the Sahel in the implementation of their medium-term and long-term recovery and rehabilitation programme;

7. Reaffirms the role of the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office as the central point and principal body responsibile for co-ordinating the efforts of United Nations agencies to help the countries of the Sahel to implement their recovery and rehabilitation programme;

8. Notes with appreciation the effective manner in which the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office is discharging its responsibilities in responding to the priority requests of the States members of the Permanent Inter-State Committee on Drought Control in the Sahel within the framework of their programme;

9. Invites the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office to continue to strengthen its close co-operation with the States members of the Permanent Inter-State Committee on Drought Control in the Sahel and with the Committee, with a view to hastening the implementation of the medium-term and long-term recovery and rehabilitation programme in the Sudano-Sahelian region;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to report to the

General Assembly, through the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme and the Economic and Social Council, on the implementation of the medium-term and long-term recovery and rehabilitation programme in the Sudano-Sahelian region.