It may well be a more feasible course, therefore, for governments to create a new organization, though still preferably outside the United Nations. In order to avoid the problems associated with United Nations agencies, such an organization should be constituted along the lines of my proposal for a remodeled ICRC, that is to say an organization fully backed by governments but not, strictly speaking, an inter-governmental organization in terms of its governance. Alternatively, a specialized agency within the United Nations system established by formal inter-governmental agreement could be set up. Such an agency would not be under the direction of the secretary-general. The relief functions of existing agencies and those of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs would be transferred to the new agency. Though less satisfactory than the other alternatives suggested, such an arrangement would be a major improvement on the existing situation. It would also be easier to achieve politically.

There is an opportunity to make real progress toward an efficient humanitarian regime during the current session of the United Nations General Assembly. The Assembly has on its agenda a report from the secretary-general on the new arrangements established under its Resolution 46/182, discussed earlier in this article. Donors are again seriously questioning the ability of the United Nations to coordinate its own relief efforts, let alone bring real cohesion to the overall intern

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