The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 47/119 of 18 December 1992 on emergency international assistance for the reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan,
Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,
Noting that the establishment of the Islamic State in Afghanistan provides a new opportunity for the reconstruction of the country,
Wishing the people of Afghanistan peace and prosperity,
Deeply concerned about the massive destruction of property and the serious damage to the economic and social infrastructure of Afghanistan caused by fourteen years of war,
Stressing the importance of the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan for the prosperity of its people, who have suffered many hardships during fourteen years of war and devastation and who have lost the chance for development throughout the conflict,
Aware that Afghanistan continues to suffer from an extremely critical economic situation as a land-locked, least developed and war-stricken country,
Affirming the urgent need to initiate international action to assist Afghanistan in restoring basic services and in rebuilding the country,
Expressing its hope that the international community will respond adequately to the Consolidated Appeal for Emergency Humanitarian Assistance for Afghanistan, launched by the Secretary-General for the period October 1993 to March 1994,
Thanking all Governments that have rendered assistance to Afghan refugees, in particular the Governments of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and recognizing the need for international assistance for the repatriation and resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons,
Bearing in mind the close interrelationship between the revitalization of the economy and the strengthening of the ability of Afghanistan to take effective steps towards those objectives and the ensuring of peace and normalcy in the country,
Stressing the important role that the United Nations can play in the further consolidation of peace and stability by assisting the process of national rapprochement, reconstruction and rehabilitation in Afghanistan,
Expressing its appreciation to the States and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations that have responded positively and continue to respond to the humanitarian needs of Afghanistan, as well as to the Secretary- General and his Personal Representative for mobilizing and coordinating the delivery of appropriate humanitarian assistance,
Welcoming the Action Plan for immediate rehabilitation, dated October 1993, prepared by the United Nations Development Programme, as lead agency, in cooperation with the Government of Afghanistan, as a first step towards reconstruction and as a framework for the mobilization of international assistance for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the country,
Appreciating the assistance of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in its continued support for the repatriation of Afghan refugees from neighbouring countries,
1. Encourages the Government of Afghanistan to take immediate steps to consolidate further the political process through national rapprochement, thus contributing to the creation of a sound political situation and good security, which would allow the holding of general, free and fair elections in the country, observed by the United Nations, as soon as circumstances permit;
2. Welcomes with appreciation the efforts of the Secretary-General to draw the attention of the international community to the acute problems of Afghanistan;
3. Urgently appeals to all States, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, specialized agencies and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as to the international financial and development institutions, to provide, on a priority basis, all possible financial, technical and material assistance for the restoration of basic services and the reconstruction of Afghanistan and for the resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons, having in mind the availability of the Afghanistan Emergency Trust Fund referred to in paragraph 6 below;
4. Requests the Secretary-General:
(a) To dispatch to Afghanistan, as soon as possible, a United Nations special mission to canvass a broad spectrum of the leaders of Afghanistan, soliciting their views on how the United Nations can best assist Afghanistan in facilitating national rapprochement and reconstruction, and to submit its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the Secretary-General for appropriate action;
(b) To develop the Action Plan for immediate rehabilitation, prepared by the United Nations Development Programme, into a full-scale strategy for rehabilitation and reconstruction, based on an in-country assessment by a team of experts of the war damage and destruction;
(c) To initiate, taking into account the conclusions and recommendations of the United Nations special mission to Afghanistan, a plan for mobilizing financial, technical and material assistance, including the possibility of convening a conference of donor States and international financial institutions;
5. Invites the Secretary-General to continue to monitor the overall situation in Afghanistan and make available his good offices as required, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session;
6. Appeals to all Member States, in particular donor countries, to provide emergency financial assistance through the Afghanistan Emergency Trust Fund established in August 1988 and the consolidated appeals by the Secretary- General for emergency humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan;
7. Invites the international financial institutions, specialized agencies, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, where appropriate, to bring the special needs of Afghanistan to the attention of their respective governing bodies for their consideration and to report on the decisions of those bodies to the Secretary-General;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution;
9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-ninth session the item entitled "Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan".
86th plenary meeting
21 December 1993
