29 May 1991

10th plenary meeting

Emergency assistance to Somalia

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its decision 1989/111 of 22 May 1989 and General Assembly resolutions 44/178 of 19 December 1989 and 45/229 of 21 December 1990,

Welcoming the action taken by the Secretary-General of sending a mission to Somalia to ascertain security conditions in preparation for the resumption of an emergency assistance programme,

Having heard the report of the Special Coordinator for Emergency Relief Operations in Somalia,

Extremely concerned at the massive displacement of the population in the affected regions of Somalia, the extensive damage to and destruction of villages, towns and cities, the heavy damage inflicted by the civil conflict on the country's infrastructure and the widespread disruption of public facilities and services,

Noting with great satisfaction the humanitarian efforts being deployed by various national and international non-governmental organizations,

Deeply appreciative of the humanitarian assistance rendered by a number of Member States to ameliorate the hardship and suffering of the affected population,

Aware of the complex political situation prevailing throughout the country and the continuation of civil strife in several areas,

1. Strongly appeals to Somalia's national leaders to do their utmost to bring about national reconciliation and to restore and promote peace and stability throughout the country;

2. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the action taken in preparing for the resumption of United Nations assistance programmes in Somalia;

3. Also expresses its appreciation for the humanitarian assistance provided to Somalia by several countries, as well as by members of the community of non-governmental organizations;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to assist in the formulation of medium- and long-term programmes for the rehabilitation and development of Somalia;

5. Also requests the Secretary-General to dispatch, without delay, an inter-agency assessment mission to determine the emergency and medium-term needs of the affected population and to make recommendations on the financial and material resources required for the restoration of basic social services and physical infrastructure, including power, water, shelter, transport and communications;

6. Appeals to Member States and to international governmental and non-governmental organizations to extend generous assistance, in particular food, medicines and shelter, to the affected population through the appropriate humanitarian channels;

7. Urges the appropriate specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Food Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization, to resume their assistance programmes in Somalia in their respective fields of competence;

8. Calls upon the Secretary-General to mobilize, on an urgent basis, international humanitarian assistance to provide for the immediate needs both of the internally displaced population and of those refugees who still remain in the country;

9. Strongly recommends that relief assistance be made available to all persons who are in need, that adequate measures be taken to ensure the safe delivery of relief supplies and the safety of relief workers, and that distribution of those supplies take place under the supervision of United Nations staff members in order to ensure impartiality and fairness;

10. Requests the Secretary-General, in view of the urgency of the situation, to endeavour to apprise the Economic and Social Council, at its second regular session of 1991, of the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution and to arrange for a comprehensive report to be submitted to the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session.