11 May 1984

Meeting 11

Measures to be taken following the cyclones and floods in Madagascar

The Economic and Social Council,

Having heard the statements made by the observer for Madagascar and the representative of the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator concerning the four tropical cyclones and the floods which severely affected all parts of Madagascar in December 1983 and January and April 1984,

Recognizing that these climatic phenomena have resulted in loss of life and the destruction of several towns and have inflicted serious damage on the economic and social infrastructures and on the agricultural, stock-farming and agro-industrial sectors,

Taking into account the fact that those sectors are of fundamental importance to the economy of the country,

Recalling the resolutions of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council on assistance in cases of natural disaster, in which appeals have been made to the international community to give special attention to these phenomena,

Taking into account the fact that the provision of assistance to countries stricken by natural disasters is an expression of the international solidarity proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations,

Noting the efforts made by the Government of Madagascar to relieve the suffering of the victims of the cyclones and floods,

Noting with satisfaction the emergency assistance provided by a number of States, international and regional organizations, specialized agencies and voluntary agencies,

1. Expresses its profound sympathy with the people and Government of Madagascar for the loss of life and the serious damage which the recent cyclones and floods have inflicted on the economy of the country;

2. Urges all States to participate or to continue to participate in relief operations and in the implementation of programmes for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the areas affected by the cyclones and floods;

3. Requests international and regional organizations, specialized agencies and voluntary agencies, particularly those most directly concerned, to lend their support, within the framework of their respective programmes, to the efforts of the Secretary-General and the United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator to mobilize relief and assistance, and also to consider urgently the requests for assistance made by the Government of Madagascar during the phase of rehabilitation and reconstruction;

4. Expresses the hope that the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and all other international and regional financial institutions concerned will give sympathetic and urgent consideration to requests for assistance which the Government of Madagascar may submit under its rehabilitation, reconstruction and development programmes and with a view to improving the existing disaster warning and protection systems;

5. Requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To send an inter-agency mission to Madagascar with a view to evaluating the damage, the priority needs of the country following the cyclones and floods and the medium-term and long-term impact of those disasters on the national economy, and to compiling the data relevant to the promotion of concerted international assistance;

(b) To transmit the report of the mission to the international community;

(c) To take the necessary action to help the Government prepare a reconstruction and recovery programme for the regions and sectors affected;

6. Further requests the Secretary-General to apprise the Economic and Social Council at its second regular session of 1984 and to report to the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution.