International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa

A/RES/37/197

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 35/42 of 25 November 1980 and 36/124 of 14 December 1981 on the International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa,

Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa, and the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the activities of his Office,

Gravely concerned at the present influx of refugees in the African continent, who now constitute over half of the population of refugees in the world,

Noting that, while the Conference succeeded in raising world consciousness about the plight of refugees and returnees in Africa, as well as the problems of asylum countries, the over-all results of the Conference in terms of financial and material assistance have fallen short of the expectations of the African countries,

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 these refugees,

Considering, 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 that the presence of refugees represents for their economies,

Considering 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,

Recognizing therefore the need to further review, with the African Governments concerned, the burden imposed on their national economies by refugees and returnees,

1. Commends the Secretary-General for his reports on the International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa, which were prepared in pursuance to paragraph 6 of its resolution 36/124 of 14 December 1981;

2. Expresses its appreciation to all donor countries, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the international community at large for their continued support and assistance to African refugees, including their efforts to facilitate the process of voluntary repatriation to their countries of origin;

3. Expresses its concern that the assistance currently being provided under existing refugee-related programmes falls short of the urgent needs of refugees and returnees in Africa and does not provide sufficient resources to enable the implementation of projects designed to ensure adequate care and relief for the refugees and to expedite the process of rehabilitation and resettlement;

4. Extends its appreciation to the countries of asylum for the great contribution that they are making in alleviating the plight of refugees and urges the international community to give the necessary assistance to enable those countries to provide essential services and facilities for the refugees;

5. 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 convene at Geneva in 1984 a second International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa:

(a) To review thoroughly the results of the Conference held in 1981 as well as the state of the progress of projects submitted to it;

(b) To consider the continuing need for assistance with a view to providing, as necessary, additional assistance to refugees and returnees in Africa for the implementation of programmes for their relief, rehabilitation and resettlement;

(c) To consider the impact imposed on the national economies of the African countries concerned and to provide them with required assistance to strengthen their social and economic infrastructure to cope with the burden of dealing with large numbers of refugees and returnees;

6. Requests further 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 consult with the concerned African countries with regard to their needs for dealing adequately with the problem of refugees and returnees and, in this respect, to submit a report on the situation in each country to enable the proposed Conference to have an up-to-date assessment, by priority, of the humanitarian, rehabilitation and resettlement needs of the refugees and returnees, and the assistance required by the countries concerned to strengthen existing services, facilities and infrastructure and, for this purpose, to reallocate existing resources;

7. Calls upon the competent specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system, including the developmental organizations, to provide all necessary co-operation and support to the Secretary-General in respect of the report to be prepared for the Conference to be held in 1984, as mentioned in paragraph 6 above;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that adequate financial and budgetary arrangements are made to cover the expenses for the preparation of the report called for in paragraph 6 above, as well as for the organization of the Conference in 1984;

9. Appeals to the international community, all Member States, the specialized agencies and regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to provide the utmost support for the Conference with a view to offering maximum financial and material assistance to refugees and returnees in Africa;

10. Invites governmental bodies of specialized agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to bring this resolution to the attention of their members and to consider, within their sphere of competence, various ways and means to increase substantially assistance to African refugees and returnees;

11. Stresses that any additional assistance provided for refugee-related projects should not be at the expense of the concerned countries' own development needs;

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