14 December 1981

International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 35/42 of 25 November 1980 relating to the International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa,

Taking note of resolution CM/Res. 868 (XXXVII) regarding the Conference and its follow-up adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-seventh session, held at Nairobi from 15 to 26 June 1981,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the Conference and the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the activities of his Office,

Gravely concerned at the growing number of refugees on the African continent, who now constitute over half the population of refugees in the world,

Regretting that, in spite of the efforts made, the assistance provided to an increasing number of African refugees is still very inadequate,

Aware of the economic and social burden imposed on African countries of asylum by the growing influx of refugees and its consequences for their development and of the heavy sacrifices made by them, despite their limited resources, to alleviate the plight of those refugees,

Recognizing therefore the need of the countries of asylum for adequate human, technical and financial assistance to enable them properly to shoulder their increased responsibilities and assume the additional burden which the presence of refugees represents for their economies,

Recognizing further the need to assist similarly the countries of origin in the voluntary repatriation and resettlement of returnees, as set out in the procedures of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,

Convinced that the participation of high-ranking officials and representatives of 99 countries and over 120 non-governmental organizations in the International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa bears evidence to the fact that the Conference drew international public attention to the situation and needs of African refugees,

1. Commends the initiative taken by the three sponsors of the International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa -

the Organization of African Unity, the United Nations and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - to maintain their close co-operation properly to define the follow-up actions that will be called for, and invites them to continue and develop their tripartite consultations and co-operation at all appropriate levels, so that the Conference funds are channelled to priority projects and put to the best use;

2. Reiterates its congratulations to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for his efforts towards the preparation of the International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa in close consultation with the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, as well as for his personal concern for African refugee problems and for the very able manner in which he presided over the Conference, thus bringing it to a successful end;

3. Expresses its appreciation and gratitude to all donor countries and to the international community at large for their very positive response to the appeal for assistance to African refugees and for their contribution to the assistance to refugees in Africa;

4. Urges the international community to continue to support the annual programmes of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and of other United Nations agencies co-operating with that Office on behalf of refugees in Africa;

5. Calls upon the pertinent development-oriented organizations and agencies of the United Nations system to envisage, at the stages of conception and implementation, all concerted efforts and co-ordinated actions aimed at harmonizing assistance programmes in the countries of asylum as well as in the countries of origin during the repatriation process and current or future development programmes, so that the potentialities of refugees or returnees may constitute an advantage rather than a burden on national development;

6. Requests the Secretary-General, in close co-operation with the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to keep the African refugee situation under close and constant scrutiny and to submit to the Economic and Social Council at its second regular session of 1982 a report containing up-to-date information on the condition of refugees in the countries concerned in order to facilitate consideration by the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session of the necessity of convening an international conference in 1983 to review the status of contributions and commitments made at the International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa, and to assess the needs and measures for further assistance for refugees and returnees in implementation of programmes for their relief, rehabilitation and resettlement;

7. Invites governmental bodies of specialized agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to consider, within their sphere of competence, various ways and means to increase substantially assistance to African refugees and returnees;

8. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in close co-operation with the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity, to keep under constant review the situation of refugees in Africa in order to ensure maximum international assistance on a global basis;

9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution.