text: Housing, Building andPlanning). UnitedNations CentreforHumanSettlements (Habitat) 44.Inresponse totheappealbytheGovernments oftheUkrainian Soviet Socialist Republic andtheByelorussian SovietSocialist Republic, theCentre isprepared, withinitsmandate andexpertise, tocontribute tointernational co-operative efforts toeliminate theconsequences oftheaccident atthe Chernobyl nuclear powerplant. 45.Inthepast,theCentrehasprovided technical assistance tomany countries indisaster-prevention measures fornatural andtechological disasters, including post-disaster evaluation andassessment ofimpact, and pre-disaster siteevaluation forthelocation ofindustries. InMarch1989, theCentresentanadvisory mission totheArmenian Sovie~Socialist Republic asafollow-up tothemajorearthquake thathadoccurred irJDecember 1988. An International Symposium ontheMitigation oftheEffects .>'Seismic ActiVity onHumanSettlements, aDroject sponsored jointly bythet<;,~eandtheUSSR, washeldatTbilisi, Georgian SovietSocialist Republic, inNovember 1989.As afollow-up tothatSymposium, theCentre, inco-operation withtheGovernment oftheUSSR,willlaunchaproject entitled "Aninternational training course onseismic mitigation inhumansettlements". OfficeoftheUnitedNations Disaster ReliefCo-ordinator (UNDRO) 46.Inresponse totheappealmadebytheGovernments oftheByelorussian SovietSocialist Republic andtheUkrainian SovietSocialist Republic in March1990tohelplaunchaninternational reliefefforttocopewi"the after-effects ofthedisaster, UNDROcontacted theappropriate Uni~~dNations agencies, withaviewtoestablishing aconcerted response. D~tawere gathered onongoing andplannedactivities ofotherUnitedNations agencies.E/1990/97 page9 Economic Commission for~3~~E£ 43.Inresponse totherequest received fromtheGovernments ofthe Byelorussian SovietSocialist Republic andtheUkrainian SovietSocialist Republic, thecontribution oftheCommission totheelimination ofthe consequences oftheChernobyl accident, inco-operation withother international organizations, couldinclude thefollowing areasinwhichthe Commission hascompetence: (a)Decontamination andtreatment ofsoilandradioactive wastes by meansofaeepploughing, agro-chemical operations andsoiltillage (Chemical Industry Committee andCommittee onAgricultural Problems); (b)Treatment ofrac!ioactive wastewater(Chemical Industry Committee andSeniorAdvisers onEnvironmental andWaterProblems); (c)Quality control infoodprocessing (Working PartyonEngineering Industries andAutomation andCommittee onAgricultural Problems); (d)Rehabilitation engineering andaidsforthedisabled (Working Party onEngineering Industries andAutomation); (e)Planning anddevelopment ofnewandexisting townsandvillages to copewithemerqency needsformasspopulation resettlement (Committee on Housing, Building andPlanning). UnitedNations CentreforHumanSettlements (Habitat) 44.Inresponse totheappealbytheGovernments oftheUkrainian Soviet Socialist Republic andtheByelorussian SovietSocialist Republic, theCentre isprepared, withinitsmandate andexpertise, tocontribute tointernational co-operative efforts toeliminate theconsequences oftheaccident atthe Chernobyl nuclear powerplant. 45.Inthepast,theCentrehasprovided technical assistance tomany countries indisaster-prevention measures fornatural andtechological disasters, including post-disaster evaluation andassessment ofimpact, and pre-disaster siteevaluation forthelocation ofindustries. InMarch1989, theCentresentanadvisory mission totheArmenian SovietSocialist Republic asafollow-up tothemajorearthquake thathadoccurred i'l'lDecember 1988. An International Symposium ontheMitigation oftheEffects .>'Seismic ActiVity onHumanSettlements, aoroject sponsored jointly bythe<.,,(.':eandtheUSSR, washeldatTbilisi, Georgian SovietSocialist Republic, inNovember 1989.As afollow-up tothatSymposium, theCentre, inco-operation withtheGovernment oftheUSSR,willlaunchaproject entitled "Aninternational training course onseismic mitigation inhumansettlements". OfficeoftheUnitedNations Disaster ReliefCo-ordinator (UNDRO)
analysis: The text appears to be focused on the response to a natural disaster, specifically the Chernobyl nuclear powerplant accident, and the efforts of various United Nations agencies to provide humanitarian aid and relief. The text mentions various areas of expertise and potential contributions, including decontamination, treatment of radioactive waste, quality control, rehabilitation engineering, and planning for mass population resettlement. The text also highlights the experience and expertise of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) and the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator (UNDRO) in disaster prevention and response.