Assistance to Benin, the Central African Republic, Ecuador, Madagascar and Vanuatu : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 43/211 of 20 December 1988 on assistance to Benin, the Central African Republic, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Ecuador, Madagascar and Vanuatu and its previous resolutions on assistance to those countries,

Having considered the relevant report of the Secretary-General,

Deeply concerned at the seriousness of the economic and financial crisis prevailing in these countries, which is heightened by the catastrophic effects of natural disasters,

Noting that, despite the structural adjustment programmes carried out by most of these countries, their economic and financial performance for the past two years has continued to be poor, and stressing the need for vigorous support of these programmes and for action to alleviate the impact of the adjustment policies being implemented, especially in the social sphere,

Noting that Benin is still facing a financial crisis, which reached its peak in 1989 as a result of the erosion of the tax base, the collapse of the banking system, the fall in productivity of the revenue services, the persistence of the consequences of the disastrous floods of 1988 and the economic crisis in the region,

Noting the grave difficulties that the Government of the Central African Republic has continued to face since 1982 in achieving the objectives of its development programme owing to the harmful effects of the international economic situation, and recognizing the need to provide it with supplementary resources so as to enable it to achieve those objectives,

Bearing in mind the economic and financial consequences of the earthquakes of March 1987 in Ecuador and their negative impact on that country's balance of payments, and taking into account the fact that all the efforts made by the Government of Ecuador to improve that adverse situation have not produced the desired results, since the effects of the international economic crisis seriously impede the entire economic and social development process,

Noting that Madagascar's economic and social development efforts are being thwarted by the adverse effects of the cyclones and floods that afflict that country periodically, and that the implementation of reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes requires the mobilization of substantial resources that are beyond the country's real means,

Noting that Vanuatu, an island developing country, continues to experience severe constraints in its economic and social development as a consequence, inter alia, of the deterioration in the terms of trade for its export commodities and of a high population growth rate coupled with an absence of skilled manpower,

Noting the particularly difficult problems faced by island developing countries in responding to negative and special economic circumstances, as referred to in the report of the Secretary-General called for in General Assembly resolution 43/189 of 20 December 1988,

Taking note of the Paris Declaration and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s adopted by the Second United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries on 14 September 1990, and mindful of the mutual commitments entered into on that occasion, as well as the importance to be attached to follow-up to the Conference,

Having heard the statements of Member States at its forty-fifth session on the situations currently prevailing in those countries,

1.         Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General, Member States, specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and regional, interregional and intergovernmental organizations for the assistance they have provided or pledged to those countries;

2.         Expresses its appreciation for the efforts undertaken by the Governments of those countries to overcome their economic and financial difficulties;

3.         Reaffirms that all Governments and international organizations should fulfil the commitments undertaken within the framework of the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development 1986-1990, contained in the annex to its resolution S-13/2 of 1 June 1986, the Declaration on International Economic Co-operation, in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries, contained in the annex to its resolution S-18/3 of 1 May 1990, and the Paris Declaration adopted by the Second United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries;

4.         Notes with concern that the assistance made available to those countries has not been adequate to meet their urgent requirements and that additional assistance is needed;

5.         Appeals to Member States, international financial institutions, the specialized agencies and organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, humanitarian organizations and voluntary agencies to respond generously and urgently to the needs of those countries as identified in the report of the Secretary-General and to continue and increase their assistance in response to the reconstruction, economic recovery and development needs of those countries;

6.         Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps and to mobilize the resources needed, in collaboration with the organs, agencies and programmes of the United Nations system, in accordance with resolution 43/211 on special programmes of economic assistance, to provide assistance for all disasters, natural or otherwise, striking those countries, both in order to meet any reconstruction needs resulting from disasters that have already occurred and in order to implement preventive programmes to reduce the effects of future disasters;

7.         Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, containing:

(a)        The identification of priorities for action by the international community;

(b)        An assessment of the assistance actually received;

(c)        An assessment of needs still unmet and specific proposals for responding to them effectively.