A/RES/64/299 economic growth and social well-being of landlocked developing countries remain very vulnerable to external shocks. We stress the need to overcome these vulnerabilities and build resilience. We call for the full, timely and effective implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries, 9 as reaffirmed in the Declaration of the high-level meeting of the sixty-third session of the General Assembly on the midterm review of the Almaty Programme of Action. 10 8F 9F 32. We recognize the unique and particular vulnerabilities of small island developing States and reaffirm our commitment to take urgent and concrete action to address those vulnerabilities through the full and effective implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. 11 We also recognize that the adverse effects of climate change and sea-level rise present significant risks to the sustainable development of small island developing States. We note the uneven progress of small island developing States in achieving the Millennium Development Goals and express concern that progress in some areas has been lagging. In this regard, we welcome the five-year high-level review of the Mauritius Strategy to be conducted on 24 and 25 September 2010 to assess progress made in addressing the vulnerabilities of small island developing States. 10F 33. We recognize that more attention should be given to Africa, especially those countries most off track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Progress has been made in some African countries, but the situation in others remains a grave concern, not least because the continent is among the hardest hit by the financial and economic crisis. We note that aid to Africa has increased in recent years; however, it still lags behind the commitments that have been made. We therefore strongly call for the delivery of those commitments. 34. We recognize also the specific development challenges of middle-income countries. These countries face unique challenges in their efforts to achieve their national development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. We also reiterate that their efforts in that regard should be based on national development plans that integrate the Millennium Development Goals and should be adequately supported by the international community, through various forms, taking into account the needs and the capacity to mobilize domestic resources of these countries. 35. We acknowledge that disaster risk reduction and increasing resilience to all types of natural hazards, including geological and hydro-meteorological hazards, in developing countries, in line with the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters, 12 can have multiplier effects and accelerate achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Reducing vulnerabilities to these hazards is therefore a high priority for 1F _______________ 9 Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. 10 See resolution 63/2. 11 Report of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10–14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. 12 A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 2. 7