United Nations General Assembly Resolution 48

by the UN General Assembly

48. Relief Needs After the Termination of UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration)

The General Assembly,

Taking note of the UNRRA Council resolution (No. 100) of 16 August 1946, and of the related resolution adopted by the Economic and Social Council of 3 October 1946;

Recognizing that certain countries will need financial assistance in 1947 to provide for imports of food and other basic essentials of life;

Taking note that this need for assistance may not, in all cases, be entirely met by international institutions and other public and private agencies available for this purpose;

Recognizing that, in some countries, if such assistance is not provided, there will be hunger, privation, and suffering during the winter, spring, and early summer of next year;

Taking note of the urgent necessity of meeting this residual relief need promptly, and of the expressed willingness of Members of the United Nations to do their part in attaining this end;

Recognizing the desirability of meeting this need without wasteful duplication of effort;

Considering that one of the purposes of the United Nations is to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of their common ends, including international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic and humanitarian character;

Reaffirming the principle that at no time should relief supplies be used as a political weapon, and that no discrimination should be made in the distribution of relief supplies because of race, creed, or political belief:

1. Establishes a Special Technical Committee whose functions shall be:

(a) To study the minimum import requirements of the basic essentials of life, particularly food and supplies for agricultural production of countries which the Committee beliefs might require assistance in the prevention of suffering or of economic retrogression which threatens the supple of these basic essentials;

(b) To survey the means available to each country concerned to finance such imports;

(c) To report concerning the amount of financial assistance which it believes may be required in the light of (a) and (b) above.

2. Decides that the Committee shall consist of ten experts in the field of finance and foreign trade to be designated by the Governments of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Poland, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, and United States of America to serve in their individual capacities and not as representatives of the Governments by which they are designated; and urges each Government to select a person of outstanding competence to serve on the Committee.

3. Directs the Secretary-General to transmit to the Committee the information called for in the third paragraph of the above-mentioned resolution of the Economic and Social Council.

4. Directs the Committee to submit its report to the Secretary-General for submission to Member Governments as soon as possible, but in any event not later than 15 January 1947.

5. Calls upon all Members of the United Nations to assist in the furnishing of relief, when needed and where needed during the ensuing year, by developing their respective programmes with the greatest possible speed and, in appropriate cases, by extending special credit facilities to the needy countries.

6. Recommends that all Members of the United Nations keep the Secretary-General informed concerning their plans for assisting in meeting relief needs in 1947, and concerning the progress of their relief activities in this respect.

7. Directs the Secretary-General:

(a) To make available to all Members of the United Nations the information received pursuant to paragraph 6 above, in order that this information, together with that transmitted pursuant to paragraph 4 above, may be used by the Members of the United Nations to facilitate the coordination, without wasteful duplication of effort, of their respective relief programmes and activities;

(b) To facilitate informal consultation among Governments concerning their relief plans and programmes; and to arrange for such consultation among Governments whenever, in his opinion, the purpose of this resolution would be promoted thereby;

(c) To furnish, within the limitations of available staff and funds, such technical assistance in respect of the 1947 relief programme as Governments may request.

8.

(a) Directs the Secretary-General to consider the ways and means of collecting and utilizing contributions, from persons, organizations and peoples all over the world, equivalent to the earnings of one day's work, for the purpose of helping to meet relief needs during 1947; and to report on the results of such consideration to Member Governments and to the Economic and Social Council at the earliest possible date;

(b) Requests the Economic and Social Council to study the report made by the Secretary-General and to take whatever action it may deem appropriate in regard to this matter.

9. Directs the Secretary-General to report at each session of the Economic and Social Council on the activities being carried out under his resolution.

Fifty-sixth plenary meeting, 11 December 1946.