Special economic, humanitarian and disaster relief assistance

Abstract

In 1992, in response to an escalation of natural disasters, civil strife and other emergencies, the United Nations implemented a more unified and strengthened approach to special economic, humanitarian and disaster relief assistance. The Secretary-General created a new Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA), absorbing the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator, in order to deal more comprehensively with the consequences of humanitarian emergencies which required ever-mounting humanitarian relief assistance. The General Assembly emphasized the leadership role of the Secretary-General in ensuring rapid and coordinated response of the United Nations system to these humanitarian emergencies and invited States to increase the resources of the Central Emergency Revolving Fund (resolution 47/168).