28 July 1983

Assistance to the drought-stricken areas of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, the Sudan and Uganda

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolutions 35/90 and 35/91 of 5 December 1980, 36/221 of 17 December 1981 and 37/147 of 17 December 1982 on assistance to the drought-stricken areas of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, the Sudan and Uganda,

Having heard the statement made by the United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator on 11 July 1983,

Noting the statements made by representatives of the States concerned, in which the catastrophic nature of the disaster was highlighted,

Aware of the adverse effects of the drought on the economic and social development of the countries concerned, as well as on their agricultural and food output,

Conscious of the high costs incurred in the distribution of assistance to the remote areas of the countries concerned,

Noting with deep concern the grave effects in the countries concerned, particularly Ethiopia, of successive years of drought and the resulting shortage of foodstuffs, livestock, fodder and water,

Deeply concerned at the intensity and the permanent and expanding nature of the drought in the subregion,

1. Notes with appreciation the measures already taken by the Secretary-General, in co-operation with the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator and other agencies and organizations of the United Nations system, to ensure the speediest and most effective relief aid for the victims of drought in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, the Sudan and Uganda;

2. Reiterates its appeal to all States and to international governmental and non-governmental organizations to make generous contributions to assist the affected populations financially, materially and technically;

3. Requests the Secretary-General, in close co-ordination with the countries concerned, the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, the relevant specialized agencies and other bodies of the United Nations system:

(a) To extend all necessary assistance to the Governments of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, the Sudan and Uganda in establishing detailed policies for dealing with drought as a recurring phenomenon within the context of their national development programmes;

(b) To mobilize international assistance for the affected population in the countries concerned;

4. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief-Co-ordinator and other organizations of the United Nations system, to accord high priority in their programmes of work to the East African subregion, and to apprise the Economic and Social Council annually, at its second regular session, of the status of this question;

5. Further requests the Secretary-General to keep the situation under review and to apprise the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session of the progress achieved in the implementation of the present resolution.