26 July 1991

31st plenary meeting

Fight against the screw-worm infestation

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolution 1990/61 of 26 July 1990, in which, inter alia, it recognized the potentially devastating effects of the screw-worm infestation on people, livestock and wildlife and the adverse socio-economic consequences thereof,

Recalling also General Assembly resolution 45/207 of 21 December 1990, in which, inter alia, the Assembly urged the international community to give full support to action to eradicate the screw-worm fly, particularly in Africa, and welcomed the support already provided by donors to the collaboration between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Fund for Agricultural Development on the eradication programme,

Noting with satisfaction the gratifying results of the pilot programme in virtually eradicating the screw-worm menace in the target area and restricting its spread into new areas,

Noting that the large-scale programme for the eradication of the screw-worm fly from North Africa, executed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, with the support of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations Development Programme, the affected countries and other donors, is in an advanced stage, as evidenced by the confinement of the parasite to the originally infested zone and the currently low number of cases within this area,

Noting also that the objectives of the screw-worm eradication programme are to eliminate economic losses in the livestock sector, to remove an immense threat to the bio-diversity of the continent and to reduce the potential for human suffering through the use of an environmentally sound and sustainable method, namely the Sterile Insect Technique, to eradicate the screw-worm,

1. Takes note of the report of the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the note by the International Fund for Agricultural Development;

2. Welcomes the prompt response by the International Fund for Agricultural Development in initiating the regional pilot biological control programme for the New World screw-worm in North Africa and by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in establishing the Screw-worm Emergency Centre for North Africa for the execution of the pilot and subsequent programmes, the technical support extended by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the financial support extended by the African Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme;

3. Notes with satisfaction the progress achieved thus far through the eradication programme;

4. Expresses its appreciation to the Governments concerned, as well as to the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Islamic Development Bank, the African Development Bank, the United Nations Development Programme and the Fund for International Development of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries for their financial support for the full-scale eradication phase;

5. Requests the Governments and organizations concerned to continue to monitor the situation closely and to take further measures to bring about the complete eradication of the screw-worm in Africa;

6. Urges funding agencies and the donor community to continue to support the eradication programme to ensure its successful completion;

7. Commends the joint effort against the screw-worm as an effective demonstration of the potential of multilateral cooperation to meet a common global environmental challenge;

8. Invites the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in cooperation with the International Fund for Agricultural Development, to submit to the Economic and Social Council at its regular session of 1992 an up-to-date report on the screw-worm eradication programme.