development efforts. Inanumber ofcountries, economic andsocial growth have suffered severe set-backs because oftheoccurrence ofdisasters, andinsomecases several yearsofprogress havebeentotally annihilated. 37.6Whilehumanity hasalways hadtolivewithnatural hazards, thevulnerability ofpopulations todisasters isincreasing. Humansettlements andindustrial activities arebothmovingintopreviously unpopulated, high-risk areas, thus greatly increasing thenumber ofpeople andtheamount ofproperty imperilled bya singledisaster. Continued humaninterference inthenatural processes controlling -2- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Librarytheenvironment cancauseserious disturbances, whichassumethecharacter of disasters, suchasdrought, floods andinsect plagues. 37.7Theeffectiveness ofreliefactivities depends toacertain extent onthe intrinsic features ofeachdisaster andontheadequacy ofthenational response. However, giventheincreasing vulnerability ofeconomies, thereisagrowing need tomobilize external assistance fromtheinternational community andtoimprove co-ordination andco-operation inordertorender thoseinternational relief efforts moreeffective. Thecallformoreexpertise andtheuseofadvanced communications technology havebecome imperative. Wellco-ordinated andexpedient disaster relief, including search andrescueoperations, timelytransportation and distribution ofessential supplies andemergency healthassistance, can significantly reduce thelossoflife. 37.8Another important aspect oftheproblem towhichtheprogramme willdevote particular attention concerns disaster preparedness andprevention, including the development ofearlywarning systems. Capacity fortheevaluation ofrisksis stilllargely incomplete inmanydeveloping countries, thusallowing disasters to continue occurring andprogressively increasing inmagnitude. Thissituation results fromalackofdisaster mitigation infrastructure inthosecountries. Also,itisdifficult toobtain financing frompotential donors fordisaster mitigation programmes indeveloping countries; suchprogrammes donotappeal as strongly todonors asdorequests thattheyreceive forimmediate assistance inthe wakeofthedisaster. 37.9Special emergency programmes aresetuptohandle, inspecific countries and onanational scale, complex emergency situations characterized bycivilstrife, thepresence oflargenumbers ofdisplaced persons andvarying degrees offamine. Suchcharacteristics distinguish themfromthosesituations whichfallwithin the mandate ofasingle organization oftheUnited Nations system, suchasfood shortages (World FoodProgramme), epidemics (WorldHealthOrganization), child health (United Nations Children's Emergency Fund), locust depredations (Foodand Agriculture Organization oftheUnited Nations) orrefugees (Office oftheUnited Nations HighCommissioner forRefugees). Though theextent andnature offuture emergencies oroutbreaks ofcivilstrife cannot bepredicted withcertainty, the historical record suggests thatsituations willarisethatwillleadGovernments to callfornewemergency programmes. 2.Overall strategy 37.10 Theprogramme components dealing withdisaster relief, mitigation and information willbeimplemented bytheOffice oftheUnited Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator (UNDRO), inaccordance withitsmandate andthepertinent provisions contained intheInternational Framework ofAction fortheInternational Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, annexed toGeneral Assembly resolution 44/236. The
**Analysis**
The text primarily focuses on the impact of disasters on economic and social development, the need for disaster relief and mitigation efforts, and the importance of international cooperation and coordination in responding to disasters. The text also touches on the role of the United Nations in disaster relief and the need for specialized emergency programs. Given the emphasis on disaster relief, mitigation, and international cooperation, it is likely that the text falls under the category of humanitarian aid and relief.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Natural resources and environment