Assistance to South African student refugees

E/RES/1978/55

1978/55. Assistance to South African student refugees
2 August 1978

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 31/126 of 16 December 1976, by which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to organize and provide emergency assistance for the care, subsistence and education of South African student refugees,

Recalling also Security Council resolution 417 (1977) of 31 December 1977, by which the Council, inter alia, requested the international community to contribute generously towards educational assistance to South African student refugees,

Recalling further General Assembly resolution 32/119 of 16 December 1977, by which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to strengthen their efforts for the mobilization of emergency financial and other appropriate forms of assistance to South African student refugees,

Noting with deep concern that the Government of South Africa continues to take repressive measures against students in that country, thus causing many South African students to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, particularly Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Zambia,

Recognizing that the needs of those South African student refugees continue to impose serious pressures on the facilities made available to them by the host countries, in particular on the educational systems of those countries,

Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on assistance to South African student refugees,¹ containing the findings of the review missions sent by the Secretary-General to the host countries and submitted in accordance with General Assembly resolution 32/119,

1. Endorses the assessment and recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on assistance to South African student refugees;

2. Notes with appreciation the generous response of the Governments of Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia in continuing to provide asylum and to make educational and other facilities available to the student refugees;

3. Endorses the measures taken by the Secretary-General and by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, as co-ordinator of assistance within the United Nations system to South African student refugees, for the mobilization of a programme of assistance to South African student refugees in the countries of asylum;

4. Notes with satisfaction the contributions thus far made by States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies for South African student refugees;

5. Expresses concern at the continuing and increasing needs of those student refugees, including in particular the need for additional educational assistance and opportunities;

6. Urges all Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies to contribute generously towards the assistance programmes for those student refugees, both through financial support and through the provision of further possibilities for their care and maintenance and for their educational and vocational training;

7. Requests all programmes and organizations of the United Nations system, including, in particular, the International Labour Organisation, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Trust Fund for South Africa and the World Food Programme, to continue to assist the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in carrying out the humanitarian task entrusted to him;

8. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue all efforts to mobilize the resources necessary for an effective programme of educational and other essential assistance to South African student refugees in Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia;

9. Further requests the Secretary-General to continue to keep the matter under review and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its thirty-third session.

36th plenary meeting
2 August 1978

1 A/33/163 and Corr.1.