Report of the Secretary-General on Administrative and Financial Arrangements for the United Nations Emergency Force (A/3383)

by United Nations

1. In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 4 of resolution A/RES/394 adopted by the General Assembly on 5 November 1956, and paragraph 7 of resolution A/RES/395 adopted on 7 November 1956, administrative and executive measures necessary for the establishment and operation of the United Nations Emergency Force have either been instituted or are in the process of being given effect to, in consultation as required, with the Advisory Committee, established under paragraph 6 of resolution A/RES/395. Subject to such action as the General Assembly may decide upon with respect to certain basic questions of administrative and financial policy to which attention is called to paragraphs 5 to 14 hereunder, it is the intention of the Secretary-General to issue such regulations and instructions as are necessary for the guidance of those concerned.

2. Having regard to the relevant provisions of the resolutions which the General Assembly has adopted, following consultation with the Advisory Committee on questions left open in my report (A/3302), the organization of the Force is proceeding on the basis of the following provisional arrangements:

(i) All personnel assigned to the Force will be under the direct supervision of the Commander who, in consultation as required with the Secretary-General, will undertake the recruitment from Member Governments of officers for his Command. The Commander may hire such local personnel as he requires and arrange with the Secretary-General for such detailment of staff from the United Nations Secretariat as may be necessary.

(ii) The Commander will have charge of the billeting and the provision of food for all personnel attached to the Force, and may negotiate with Governments and private suppliers for the provision of premises and food.

(iii) The Commander will arrange for the transportation of personnel and equipment to and from the area of operations; will make provision for local transportation within the area; and will coordinate the use of all transportation facilities furnished by Governments.

(iv) The Commander will be responsible for the procurement, storage and issuance of supplies required by the Force.

(v) The Commander will make such arrangements as may be necessary for obtaining equipment required by the Force, other than the standard equipment expected to accompany national contingents.

(vi) The Commander, in consultation with the Secretary-General, will make appropriate arrangements for the inclusion in the Force of such supporting units as may be necessary to provide for the establishment, operation and maintenance of communications within the area of operations and with United Nations Offices.

(vii) The Commander, in consultation with the Secretary-General, will also arrange for the necessary supporting units to provide medical, dental and sanitary services for all personnel.

(viii) The Secretary-General, in consultation with the Advisory Committee, will have final authority for all administrative and financial operations of the Force. He will be responsible for concluding agreements or making other arrangements with contributing Governments regarding the provision of troop units, supplies, or services required by the Force.

3. Arrangements have been made, pursuant to the provisional approval contained in paragraph 5 of resolution A/RES/395, for the finances of the Force to be handled under a Special Account outside of the normal budget of the United Nations. As provided for in paragraph 7 of the draft resolution annexed to the present report, the Secretary-General will issue provisional financial rules for the operation of the Special Account as soon as the General Assembly has acted on the policy questions raised in this report. Such rules will provide, inter alia, for audit of transactions relating to the Special Account by the United Nations Board of Auditors and for the scope of such audit to be determined by the Board in consultation with the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions. Established United Nations procedures for financial control and accounting will be applied to the extent that they are appropriate.

4. The Secretary-General believes that the arrangements provide a basis for the effective functioning of the Force. There are, however, administrative and financial questions involving broad policy considerations on which the Secretary-General requests the guidance of the General Assembly. Such matters relate to the method to be adopted for allocating to Member Governments the costs for the Force; the necessity of assuring necessary cash requirements; the problem of currency of payment of troops and related questions; and arrangements regarding compensation for service-incurred death or disability. The views of the Secretary-General with respect to these particular matters are set forth hereunder, and the draft resolution annexed is based on these views.

Methods of Assessment on Member States for the Expenses in Connection with the Force

5. The Secretary-General considers it essential that the General Assembly decide at an early date on the method of allocating to Member States the costs of the Force to be financed by the United Nations.

6. In order to assist the General Assembly in considering this question, the Secretary-General recommends:

(a) That the expenses of the Force be allocated to Member States on the basis of the scale of assessments to be adopted for the United Nations budget for 1957.

(b) That the General Assembly decides now on an initial amount of assessment for the Special Account.

Portal:United Nations Emergency Force I