A/HRC/12/27 page 14 debt burden of poor countries.12 The reiteration of commitments to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in several international instruments and the practice consistent with these commitments provide a rational basis for the recognition of a principle of international solidarity, which will at some point provide a strong argument that such an obligation has crystallized into customary international law. In this sphere, international solidarity could eventually go well beyond the scope of general principles of international law to that of international custom. 34. One major result of the action conducted by developing countries for development can be seen in the fact that this issue has become a central one for the international community.13 Although declarations and other instruments in the sphere of development, including General Assembly resolutions, are not always adopted by consensus, they must be accorded due value in that they can inform the creation of international legal principles, as they represent consensual opinion of a large majority of States. IV. INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AND COOPERATION IN NATURAL DISASTERS AND COMBATING DISEASES A. Natural disasters 35. International law recognizes responsibility to disaster victims, although this recognition is not yet legally binding. Humanitarian principles applicable to disaster situations are one area for development in which ideological and political differences at the global level could most likely be reconciled.14 With regard to natural disasters, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has expressed the view that States and international organizations have a joint and individual responsibility to cooperate in providing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance in times of emergency.15 In disaster relief and emergency assistance, priority is to be given to Covenant rights.16 36. While the affected State has primary responsibility for the efforts made to deal with natural disasters within its territory, the role played by international cooperation is very significant. International cooperation in natural disasters encompasses measures of prevention, preparedness, mitigation and recovery and reconstruction, including strengthening the response capacity of affected countries (General Assembly resolution 59/212). International cooperation should also be strengthened in support of the efforts made by affected States in dealing with natural disasters 12 C.T. Holder, “Note: a feminist human rights approach for engendering the Millennium Development Goals”, 14 Cardozo Journal of Law & Gender, 2007. 13 A. Cassese, International Law, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2005. 14 See Z. Coursen-Neff, “Preventive measures pertaining to unconventional threats to the peace, such as natural and humanitarian disasters”, 30, New York University Journal of International Law and Policy, 1998. 15 See E/C.12/2000/4, para. 40 and E/C.12/1999/5, para. 38. 16 E/C.12/2000/11, para. 34.