Assistance to Benin, the Central African Republic, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Ecuador, the Gambia, Madagascar, Nicaragua and Vanuatu

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 41/200 of 8 December 1986 on assistance to Benin, the Central African Republic, the Comoros, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone and Vanuatu and its previous resolutions on assistance to the countries concerned,

Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolutions 1987/15 of 26 May 1987, on assistance for reconstruction in Vanuatu, and 1987/17 of 26 May 1987, on assistance to Ecuador,

Having considered the relevant report of the Secretary-General,

Noting with satisfaction the financial, economic and technical support that Member States, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and regional, interregional and intergovernmental organizations have provided to those countries,

Deeply concerned that those countries continue to face special economic and financial difficulties owing to a variety of factors,

Noting the efforts made by the Government of Ecuador to improve and accelerate the process of reconstruction and rehabilitation of the areas affected by the devastation caused by the earthquake in March 1987, in particular its efforts with respect to co-operation and assistance required owing to the damage caused to the economic infrastructure of the country,

Noting the efforts made by the Government of Democratic Yemen in its rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes in response to the devastating consequences of the floods in 1982,

Noting the particularly difficult problems faced by island developing countries in responding to negative and special economic circumstances, as referred to in General Assembly resolution 41/163 of 5 December 1986 on specific measures in favour of island developing countries,

Noting that Vanuatu, an island developing country, continues to experience severe constraints in its economic and social development, particularly as a consequence of the devastation and loss of life caused by cyclone "Uma", which struck it on 7 and 8 February 1987,

Noting that Benin continues to experience serious economic and financial difficulties, characterized by a marked balance-of-payments disequilibrium, the heavy burden of its external debt and a lack of resources necessary for the implementation of its planned economic and social development programme,

Noting that despite serious efforts undertaken by the Government of the Central African Republic since 1982 to re-establish economic stability, the results of which were recognized at the round-table meeting held at Geneva in June 1987, the situation of the country remains precarious, and that more assistance from the international community, including international organizations, is required to enable it to achieve its objectives in development programmes,

Noting that adverse climatic conditions that impede any meaningful agricultural activities, the lingering effects of recurrent drought and the presence of large numbers of refugees are having a devastating impact on the economic and social development of Djibouti,

Noting that, owing to the lack of external financial assistance, the Government of the Gambia has not been able to implement the six projects recommended by the Secretary-General in his report submitted to the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session,

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, particularly those of December 1983, January and April 1984 and March 1986, and that the execution of reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes requires the mobilization of sizeable resources exceeding the country's real possibilities,

Noting also that, in recent years, the economy of Nicaragua has been adversely affected by various events and natural disasters, such as drought and the intense rains and floods that occurred in 1982, 1985 and 1986, as well as the floods that affected the Atlantic coast of the country in August 1987, all of which have worsened the economic situation and impeded its normalization, for which international assistance is required to complement national development efforts,

Noting that Benin, the Central African Republic, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, the Gambia and Vanuatu are among the countries classified as least developed countries,

Having heard the statements of Member States at the forty-second session of the General Assembly on the situations currently prevailing in those countries,

1.         Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the steps he has taken to mobilize resources for carrying out the special programmes of economic assistance to those countries;

2.         Also expresses its appreciation for the assistance provided or pledged to those countries by Member States, specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and regional, interregional and intergovernmental organizations;

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

4.         Notes with concern that the assistance made available to those countries has fallen short of their urgent requirements and that additional assistance is still needed;

5.         Reaffirms the need for all Governments and international organizations to fulfil the commitments undertaken within the framework of the Substantial New Programme of Action for the 1980s for the Least Developed Countries;

6.         Appeals to Member States, international financial institutions, the specialized agencies and organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to respond generously and urgently to the needs of those countries as identified in the reports of the Secretary-General;

7.         Invites the international community to contribute to the special accounts established at United Nations Headquarters by the Secretary-General for the purpose of facilitating the channelling of contributions to the countries facing special difficulties;

8.         Urgently appeals to all international organizations, in particular the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, regional organizations, humanitarian organizations and voluntary agencies to continue and increase, to the extent possible, their assistance in response to the reconstruction, economic recovery and development needs of those countries;

9.         Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps, in collaboration with the organs, agencies and programmes of the United Nations system, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 41/192 of 8 December 1986 on special programmes of economic assistance, to provide assistance for all disasters, natural or otherwise, striking those countries and to mobilize the necessary resources to enable them to meet their short-, medium- and long-term needs;

10.       Further requests the Secretary-General to keep the question of assistance to those countries and their economic situation under review and to report to the General Assembly at its forty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution.