International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction : successor arrangements

Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the activities of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction; endorses the proposals to ensure the swift establishment of future arrangements for disaster recuction; also endorses the proposal to establish an inter-agency task force and inter-agency secretariat for disaster reduction, under the authority of the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs for an initial period of the biennium 2000-2001; decides to maintain the observance of the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction on the 2nd Wednesday of October; requests the Secretary-General to establish, from voluntary contributions, a trust fund for disaster reduction; calls upon Governments to continue to cooperate and coordinate their efforts with the Secretary-General and the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, the UN system, NGOs and other partners to implement and develop further a comprehensive strategy to maximize international cooperation in the field of natural disasters; requests the Secretary-General to solicit inputs from Governments and relevant UN organizations in order to disseminate listings of organizations that provide civil protection and emergency response at all levels; emphasizes the urgent need to develop further and make use of the existing scientific and technical knowledge to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters; reaffirms the importance of early warning systems and the need to strengthening the international framework for the improvement of the early warning system and disaster preparedness

Adopted without vote, 87th meeting

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Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, 22 Dec. 1999.