(2017) The New United Nations Approach to Cholera in Haiti (A/71/L.78)

United Nations A/71/L.78 General Assembly Distr.: Limited 10 July 2017 Original: English 17-11542 (E) 110717 *1711542* Seventy-first session Agenda item 69 (c) Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance: special economic assistance to individual countries or regions Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago: draft resolution The new United Nations approach to cholera in Haiti The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 65/135 and 65/136 of 15 December 2010, 70/245 and 70/246 of 23 December 2015, 71/161 of 16 December 2016 and 71/302 of 30 June 2017, Reiterating its grave concern at the outbreaks of cholera in Haiti, which have affected more than 800,000 people and resulted in over 9,000 deaths, Recognizing the considerable national, regional and international efforts deployed in the fight against cholera in Haiti since 2010, and acknowledging that, while important progress has been made in combating cholera, Haiti continues to face significant challenges that affect these efforts, Recognizing also that the United Nations bears a moral responsibility to the victims of the cholera epidemic in Haiti and to their families, as well as to supporting Haiti in overcoming the epidemic and building sound and sustainable water, sanitation and health systems, Bearing in mind the need to urgently alleviate the suffering caused by cholera and to proactively and sustainably address the conditions that increase the risk of cholera, in particular poverty, including extreme poverty, weak sanitation infrastructure, limited access to clean water, poor housing conditions and lack of basic health services, Underscoring the need to address this prolonged public health crisis owing to its grave humanitarian, social and economic consequences, and stressing the importance of strengthening the Haitian national health, water and sanitation systems in order to promote the health and well-being of the population, while contributing to Haiti’s sustainable development efforts, A/71/L.78 17-11542 2/3 Underscoring also the importance of oral cholera vaccination campaigns to help to protect the at-risk population as an important element of the prevention efforts under the new approach, and taking note of the recommendations of the World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization for oral cholera vaccination in endemic settings, humanitarian settings and during outbreaks, Recognizing the efforts made by the Secretary-General and the Secretariat in alleviating the cholera epidemic in Haiti, in particular through the new United Nations approach to cholera in Haiti, Recognizing also that there has been a decrease in the number of suspected cases as a result of, inter alia, intensified cholera response and control efforts under the new approach, and that it is critical to maintain the intensified cholera response and control efforts through 2017 and 2018, Welcoming the central role played by the Government of Haiti, with support from the United Nations and other regional and international actors, in responding to the cholera epidemic, with a view to ultimately eliminating cholera in Haiti, Underlining its strong commitment to responding to this protracted emergency in an effective and coordinated manner, Mindful of the impact of the cholera epidemic on the reputation of the United Nations in Haiti and globally, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on a new approach to cholera in Haiti; 1 2. Reaffirms its support for the new United Nations approach to cholera in Haiti, including the establishment of the United Nations Haiti Cholera Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund; 3. Welcomes the contributions already made, and invites Member States, regional, international and bilateral donors, financial institutions, the private sector and other donors to provide further voluntary financial and other appropriate support for the new approach; 4. Encourages Member States and the United Nations development system to facilitate and complement international and regional cooperation and technical assistance, including bilateral, North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation, in support of the new approach; 5. Reaffirms that South-South cooperation is an important element of international cooperation for development, as a complement to, not a substitute for, North-South cooperation; 6. Welcomes the appointment by the Secretary-General of a new Special Envoy for Haiti; 7. Also welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General, in line with paragraph 69 of his report, to invite Member States, when informing them of their respective share of the unencumbered balance and other income for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2016, to voluntarily direct their share, on an exceptional basis and to the extent compatible with their national legislative frameworks, to the United Nations Haiti Cholera Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund so as to support the new approach, in line with the relevant rules and regulations of the __________________ 1 A/71/895. A/71/L.78 3/3 17-11542 Organization, and to notify him of their decision to do so within 60 days of the adoption of the present resolution; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to rigorously pursue and complete the liquidation of the assets of MINUSTAH, as planned, in accordance with regulation 5.14 of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, and, while complying with the regulation, to take into account the lessons learned and to bear in mind, when disposing of the assets of MINUSTAH, their potential use by the United Nations country team and the Government of Haiti in supporting the cholera response, as well as in supporting the sustainable development of Haiti; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the implementation of the new approach and to include in the report information on the status of the Trust Fund, for consideration by the General Assembly during the main part of its seventy-second session.