Second International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa: resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

A/RES/39/139

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Second International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 37/197 of 18 December 1982 and 38/120 of 16 December 1983,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the Second International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa, held at Geneva from 9 to 11 July 1984,

Welcoming the results obtained by the Conference, in particular the adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action, which provide the international community with a collective strategy to achieve lasting solutions,

Gravely concerned at the persistent and serious problem of large numbers of refugees on the African continent,

Aware of the economic and social burden borne by African countries of asylum on account of the presence of these refugees and its consequences for their national development and of the heavy sacrifices made by them, despite their limited resources,

Recognizing the universal collective responsibility of sharing the urgent and overwhelming burden of the problem of African refugees through effective mobilization of resources to meet the urgent and long-term needs of the refugees and to strengthen the capacity of countries of asylum to provide adequately for the refugees while they remain in those countries, as well as to assist the countries of origin in the rehabilitation of voluntary returnees,

Emphasizing the vital importance of the complementarity between refugee aid and development assistance,

Noting with satisfaction the wide participation of Member States, specialized agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and the commitments and pledges made at the Conference,

1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme for their commendable effort in organizing the Second International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa;

2. Endorses the Declaration and Programme of Action of the Second International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa;

3. Expresses its deep appreciation to African host countries, which are the biggest donors, for their generous contribution and continuous efforts to alleviate the plight of refugees in spite of their critical economic situation;

4. Expresses once again its appreciation to the international community and, in particular, to all donor countries, specialized agencies, regional organizations and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations for their support and initial response to the projects submitted to the Conference;

5. Urges the international community to maintain the momentum created by the Conference and to translate into reality the projects submitted as well as the principles in the Declaration and Programme of Action agreed upon by the Conference;

6. Emphasizes the vital importance of the complementarity of refugee aid and development assistance and of achieving durable solutions to the problems of refugees in Africa through the voluntary repatriation or local integration of refugees and the necessity of providing assistance for the strengthening of the social and economic infrastructures of African countries receiving refugees and returnees;

7. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue to keep the situation of refugees in Africa under constant review with a view to providing adequate humanitarian assistance for relief and expanded durable solutions;

8. Calls upon all pertinent organizations of the United Nations system, as well as relevant regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to lend their support, within their respective spheres of competence, to the realization of the goals of the Conference;

9. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with the Declaration and Programme of Action, to monitor, in consultation and close co-operation with the Organization of African Unity and, in particular, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Development Programme, the follow-up to the Conference;

10. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fortieth session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the implementation of the present resolution.