Forty-ninth session
Agenda item 99
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 48/118 of 20 December 1993,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General 1/
and the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,
2/
Bearing in mind that most of the affected countries are
least developed countries,
Convinced of the necessity to strengthen the capacity within
the United Nations system for the implementation and overall coordination
of relief programmes for refugees, returnees and displaced persons,
Welcoming the prospects for voluntary repatriation and
durable solutions throughout Africa,
Recognizing the need for States to create conditions conducive
to the prevention of flows of refugees and displaced persons and
to voluntary repatriation,
Bearing in mind that the majority of refugees and displaced
persons are women and children,
Noting with deep gratitude the readiness and willingness
with which States members of the Organization of African Unity
have always received refugees and displaced persons in spite of
the economic difficulties facing most African States,
Realizing the importance of assisting the host countries,
in particular those countries that have been hosting refugees
for a long time, to remedy environmental deterioration and the
negative effects on public services and the development process,
Recognizing the mandate of the High Commissioner to protect
and assist refugees and returnees and the catalytic role she plays,
together with the international community and development agencies,
in addressing the broader issues of development relating to refugees,
returnees and displaced persons,
Bearing in mind the necessity of facilitating the work
of humanitarian organizations, in particular the supply of food,
medicine and health care to refugees, returnees and displaced
persons, deploring acts of aggression against personnel of humanitarian
organizations, particularly those that have led to the loss of
life, and stressing the need to guarantee the safety of the personnel
of those organizations,
Deeply concerned about the continuing critical humanitarian
situation in African countries, particularly in the Horn of Africa,
caused by persistent drought, conflict and population movements,
Conscious of the situation of the refugees, returnees and
displaced persons in east, west, central and southern Africa,
Welcoming regional efforts, such as the mechanism for conflict
prevention, management and resolution established by the Assembly
of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African
Unity at its twenty-ninth ordinary session, held at Cairo from
28 to 30 June 1993, 3/
Taking into account resolution CM/Res.1521 (LX) on refugees,
returnees and displaced persons in Africa, adopted by the Council
of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its sixtieth
ordinary session, held at Tunis from 6 to 11 June 1994, 4/
Deeply concerned about the massive presence of refugees
and externally displaced persons in Djibouti, which represents
25 per cent of the total population of the country, and by their
uninterrupted influx owing to the tragic situation in Somalia,
Deeply concerned also about the serious consequences of
the presence of refugees and externally displaced persons for
the already difficult economic and social situation in Djibouti,
which is suffering from prolonged drought and the negative effects
of the critical situation in the Horn of Africa,
Recognizing that more than half of the refugees and externally
displaced persons in Djibouti are located in Djibouti City in
most serious difficulties and without direct international assistance,
exerting intolerable pressure on the limited resources of the
country and the social infrastructure and causing, in particular,
serious problems of security,
Also recognizing the need for cooperation between the Government
of Djibouti and the High Commissioner and relevant organizations
to find alternative solutions to the problem of refugees in Djibouti
City and to mobilize the necessary external assistance to meet
their specific needs,
Aware that the refugee population in the refugee camps
throughout Djibouti is in a precarious situation, facing the threat
of famine, malnutrition and disease, and that it needs adequate
external assistance for the provision of foodstuff, medical assistance
and the necessary infrastructure for shelter,
Also aware that Eritrea has been devastated by a thirty-year
war, which ended in May 1991, and repeated droughts over the years,
that its economy and resources have been destroyed and that it
is starting anew,
Recognizing the massive task facing Eritrea of repatriating
over half a million refugees, particularly from the Sudan, through
its Programme for Refugee Reintegration and Rehabilitation of
Resettlement Areas in Eritrea, and resettling voluntary returnees
already in the country, internally displaced persons and demobilized
former combatants, and the enormous burden that they have placed
on the Government of Eritrea,
Recognizing also the need for cooperation between the Government
of Eritrea and the Department of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat
and relevant organizations in order to mobilize the necessary
international assistance to put the programmes of human resettlement
into action in Eritrea,
Deeply concerned about the massive presence of refugees,
voluntary returnees, displaced persons and demobilized soldiers
in Ethiopia and the enormous burden that this has placed on the
infrastructure and meagre resources of the country,
Deeply concerned also about the grave consequences this
has entailed for Ethiopia's capability to grapple with the effects
of the prolonged drought and to rebuild the country's economy,
Aware of the heavy burden placed on the Government of Ethiopia
and of the need for immediate and adequate assistance to refugees,
voluntary returnees, displaced persons, demobilized soldiers and
victims of natural disasters,
Deeply concerned about the burden that has been placed
on the Government and people of Kenya because of the influx of
refugees fleeing the strife in some neighbouring countries and
the infiltration of armed bandits and highly dangerous illegal
weapons from the situation obtaining in Somalia,
Aware of the need to improve the security situation in
the region, particularly in the border areas, for the safety of
the refugees, the local community and personnel involved in humanitarian
activities,
Recognizing the great contribution and sacrifices that
the Government of Kenya has made and continues to make in dealing
with this situation,
Emphasizing the importance and necessity of continuing
assistance to the refugees in Kenya, estimated to number more
than two hundred and seventy thousand, until such time as this
situation has changed,
Deeply concerned about the tragic impact that the civil
war in Somalia continues to have on the lives of its people, affecting
four to five million people who are either refugees in neighbouring
countries or internally displaced and are in need of urgent humanitarian
assistance,
Aware that the voluntary repatriation of large numbers
of Somali refugees in neighbouring countries and elsewhere, as
well as the return of internally displaced persons to their original
homes, will still require a planned and integrated international
assistance programme designed to cover their basic needs, ensure
adequate reception arrangements and facilitate their smooth integration
into their respective communities,
Convinced that it is necessary that humanitarian assistance
to Somali refugees, returnees and displaced persons be mobilized
urgently and delivered without delay in view of the deteriorating
situation of the displaced persons and returnees and the mounting
pressure the refugees continue to place on the host countries,
Appealing to the Somalis to implement the Addis Ababa Agreement
on national reconciliation that the Somali leaders signed on 27
March 1993 5/ in order to create an environment conducive to the
repatriation of Somali refugees from the neighbouring countries,
Recognizing that the Sudan has been hosting large numbers
of refugees over an extended period of time,
Aware of the economic difficulties facing the Government
of the Sudan, and the need for adequate assistance for the refugees
and displaced persons in the Sudan and the rehabilitation of the
areas affected by their presence,
Commending the Government of the Sudan and the Office of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the efforts
they have undertaken for the voluntary repatriation of the large
numbers of refugees to their homelands,
Deeply concerned about the plight of Sudanese refugee children,
particularly the problem of unaccompanied minors, and emphasizing
the need for their protection, well-being and reunification with
their families,
Considering that the repatriation and reintegration of
returnees and the relocation of displaced persons are hindered
by natural disasters and that the process poses serious humanitarian,
social and economic problems for the Government of Chad,
Cognizant of the appeal to Member States and intergovernmental
and non-governmental organizations to continue to provide the
necessary assistance to the Government of Chad to alleviate its
problems and improve its abilities to implement the programme
of repatriation, reintegration and relocation of voluntary returnees
and displaced persons,
Noting with appreciation the continuing efforts of the
Economic Community of West African States and the Organization
of African Unity to restore peace, security and stability in Liberia,
and the signing on 25 July 1993, at Cotonou, Benin, of the peace
agreement between the Interim Government of National Unity of
Liberia, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia and the United
Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy, 6/ as well as the
establishment of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia,
aimed at bringing an end to the conflict,
Deeply concerned about the influx of internally displaced
persons, returnees and refugees to Monrovia and the enormous burden
this has placed on the infrastructure and fragile economy of the
country,
Also deeply concerned that, despite the efforts made to
provide the necessary material and financial assistance for the
refugees, returnees and displaced persons, the situation remains
unsettled and has serious implications for the long-term national
development of Liberia, as well as for those West African countries
hosting Liberian refugees,
Bearing in mind the continuing need to provide emergency
humanitarian assistance to Liberian refugees, returnees and displaced
persons, since the security situation is not yet propitious for
the conduct of large-scale voluntary repatriation and reintegration,
Deeply concerned about the influx of refugees into Burundi,
Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zaire following the
recent crisis in Rwanda,
Considering the alarming situation of internally displaced
persons in Burundi and Rwanda,
Emphasizing the need for structured and coordinated action
by all parties to assist the Government of Rwanda in the rehabilitation,
reconstruction and normalization of civil society in that country
and to complement the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner
related to repatriation,
Welcoming the ongoing repatriation programmes for refugees
in some southern African countries,
Convinced that, because of the serious economic situation
arising from the effects of persistent drought in southern Africa
and the impact on some countries in the region of having hosted
large numbers of refugees, there is a continuing need for the
international community to extend maximum and concerted assistance
to the southern African countries sheltering refugees, returnees
and displaced persons,
Welcoming with appreciation the ongoing activities of the
High Commissioner for the voluntary repatriation and reintegration
of South African returnees,
Recognizing the need to integrate refugee-related development
projects in local and national development plans,
1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General 1/
and the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;
2/
2. Commends the Governments concerned for their sacrifices,
for providing assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced
persons and for their efforts to promote voluntary repatriation
and other measures taken in order to find appropriate and lasting
solutions;
3. Expresses deep concern at the serious and far-reaching
consequences of the presence of large numbers of refugees and
displaced persons in the countries concerned and the implications
for the security environment and their long-term socio-economic
development;
4. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General,
the High Commissioner, the specialized agencies, the International
Committee of the Red Cross, donor countries and intergovernmental
and non-governmental organizations for their assistance in mitigating
the plight of the large number of refugees, returnees and displaced
persons;
5. Expresses the hope that additional resources will be
made available for general refugee programmes to keep pace with
refugee needs;
6. Expresses its gratitude to the international community
for the humanitarian assistance it has continued to render to
refugees and displaced persons and to the countries of asylum,
and calls upon it to continue to provide assistance to the millions
of refugees and displaced persons in Africa;
7. Calls upon Governments, United Nations organizations,
non-governmental organizations and the international community
as a whole to strengthen the emergency response capacity of the
Office of the High Commissioner on the basis of the experience
of the emergency in Rwanda, and to continue providing needed resources
and operational support to assist Rwandese refugees and the host
countries until a permanent solution can be implemented;
8. Calls upon the international donor community to provide
material and financial assistance for the implementation of programmes
intended for the rehabilitation of the environment and infrastructure
in areas affected by refugees in countries of asylum;
9. Calls upon Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations to continue to provide the necessary support and
financial assistance to the High Commissioner to enhance her capacities
and abilities to implement emergency operations, care and maintenance
activities and repatriation and reintegration programmes for the
benefit of refugees, returnees and, as appropriate, certain groups
of internally displaced persons;
10. Appeals to Member States and international and non-governmental
organizations to provide adequate financial, material and technical
assistance for relief and rehabilitation programmes for the large
number of refugees, voluntary returnees and displaced persons
and victims of natural disasters and to the affected countries;
11. Requests all Governments and intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations to pay particular attention to
meeting the special needs of refugee women and children;
12. Calls upon the Secretary-General, the High Commissioner,
the Department of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and
United Nations humanitarian organizations to continue their efforts
to mobilize humanitarian assistance for the relief, repatriation,
rehabilitation and resettlement of refugees, returnees and displaced
persons, including those refugees in urban areas;
13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts
to mobilize adequate financial and material assistance for the
full implementation of present and future projects in rural and
urban areas affected by the presence of refugees, returnees and
displaced persons;
14. Requests the High Commissioner to continue her efforts
with the appropriate United Nations organizations, the Organization
of African Unity and intergovernmental, governmental and non-governmental
organizations to consolidate and increase essential services to
refugees, returnees and displaced persons;
15. Also requests the High Commissioner to review her general
programmes in Africa, taking into account the increasing requirements
in that region;
16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive
and consolidated report on the situation of refugees, returnees
and displaced persons in Africa to the General Assembly at its
fiftieth session, under the item entitled "Report of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, questions relating
to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian
questions", and an oral report to the Economic and Social
Council at its substantive session of 1995.
94th plenary meeting
23 December 1994
1/ A/49/578.
2/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 12 (A/49/12 and Add.1).
3/ See A/48/322, annex II.
4/ See A/49/313, annex I.
5/ See S/26317, sect. IV.
6/ S/26272, annex.