Special attention should be given to disaster prevention and preparedness by the Governments concerned, as well as by the international community. There is a clear relationship between emergency, rehabilitation and development. In order to ensure a smooth transition from relief to rehabilitation and development, emergency assistance should be provided in ways that will be supportive of recovery and long-term development. Thus, emergency measures should be seen as a step towards long-term development. Economic growth and sustainable development are essential for prevention of and preparedness against natural disasters and other emergencies.
Many emergencies reflect the underlying crisis in development facing developing countries.
Humanitarian assistance should therefore be accompanied by a renewal of commitment to economic growth and sustainable development of developing countries. In this context, adequate resources must be made available to address their development problems. Contributions for humanitarian assistance should be provided in a way which is not to the detriment of resources made available for international cooperation for development. The United Nations has a central and unique role to play in providing leadership and coordinating the efforts of the international community to support the affected countries. The United Nations system needs to be adapted and strengthened to meet present and future challenges in an effective and coherent manner.