B3-1445, 1461 and 1506/93

Resolution on the impending disaster in former Yugoslavia this winter

The European Parliament,

A.noting the call made in Geneva on 8 October 1993 by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mrs Sadako Ogata, in which she appealed to the entire United Nations organization, governments, international bodies, and non-governmental organizations to address themselves as a matter of urgency to the plight of the people stricken by the war in former Yugoslavia, a situation the UNHCR and the other organizations involved are tackling with only very limited success,

B.stressing that the number of people in need of assistance from international relief has risen from 500 000 in November 1991 to over 4 250 000 in October 1993;

C.warning that large numbers of these people, especially the 2 740 000 in Bosnia-Herzegovina, will have little resistance to cold and disease this winter since they have been malnourished for many months, while last winter they were obliged to use up a huge part of their supplies of fuel, including trees,

D.pointing out that, in launching the Seventh Consolidated Appeal for the period October 1993 to June 1994, the UNCHR stated that $696 million was needed,

E.applauding all that Mrs Ogata herself, the organization which she heads, and countless other humanitarian organizations are doing to help the war victims,

F.convinced, like Mrs Ogata, that, unless there is peace, the humanitarian effort will be insufficient to avert a catastrophe and that the blame for the tragedy in Bosnia-Herzegovina lies with political and military leaders,

G.aware of the difficulties impeding UNHCR staff from carrying out their duties,

H.condemning the obstacles placed in the way of convoys, making it difficult to supply international aid,

1.Calls on the European Community and its Member States to give a positive response to the warning appeal made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mrs Sadako Ogata, with a view to raising the necessary funds to help the people at risk before the arrival of winter;

2.Calls on the European Council, meeting in Brussels on 29-30 October 1993, to rise to the challenge of this disaster in Europe, which may well cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, especially children, this winter;

3.Calls on the Council, when it holds its next summit, to take clear-cut political decisions to enable the conditions spelt out by Mrs Ogata to be met, thereby ensuring that all civilian populations in need are granted full, free, and unrestricted access to humanitarian assistance, that the safety of civilian personnel is guaranteed, and that humanitarian aid is allocated solely for civilian uses;

4.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the European Council, the Council, the Commission, the Member States of the Security Council, the UNCHR and the governments of all the States of former Yugoslavia.