financial and technical assistance. The only financial base now available for development was the Tuvalu Trust Fund, which needed to be replenished significantly by donors in order to make adequate resources available to promote various economic and social activities. 25. The representative of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics stated that his country regards with understanding specific problems of the IDCs and has been participating in the efforts of the international community aimed at creating favourable conditions for sustainable development of these countries. Special attention should be given to development of human resources, communications, services etc. with due regard to environmental issues. Strengthened regional co-operation could facilitate development of IDCs. He pointed out that regional and international co-operation in exploration and exploitation of the IDCs' Exclusive Economic Zones had significant potential for their development. He concluded that a spirit of global consensus would be needed to address successfully all the issues of IDCs' development. 26. The representative of Malta said that his country had been actively involved in the draft text adopted as General Assembly resolution 43/189, entitled "Specific measures in favour of island developing countries". Island developing countries suffered from a number of handicaps arising from the interplay of, inter alia, factors such as smallness, remoteness, geographical dispersion, vulnerability to natural disasters, heavy dependence on imports and a small number of commodities, migration, particularly of persons with high-level skills, and shortage of administrative personnel. He further stated that the UNCTAD secretariat had done useful work and was rendering IDCs an important service but that in the future UNCTAD deserved more human and financial resources to address the problems and needs of IDCs effectively. He proposed that, as a first step, a unit be set up within the UNCTAD secretariat 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the development of Island Developing Countries (IDCs), highlighting the challenges they face, such as smallness, remoteness, and vulnerability to natural disasters. It also touches on the importance of regional and international cooperation, human resources, and financial assistance. The text does not focus on specific sectors like agriculture, industry, or health, but rather on the broader themes of economic development, international trade, and humanitarian aid.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade, Humanitarian aid and relief