Assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa

Notes with concern that the declining socio-economic situation, compounded by political instability, internal strife, human rights violations and natural disasters, such as drought, has led to increased numbers of refugees and displaced person in some countries of Africa; expresses deep concern at the serious and far-reaching consequences of large numbers of refugees and displaced persons in the receiving countries and the implications for security, long-term socio-economic development and the environment; expresses concern at instances where the fundamental principle of asylum is jeopardized by the unlawful expulsion or refoulement or by threats to the life, physical security, integrity, dignity and well-being of refugees; calls upon UNHCR and other concerned entities to intensify protection activities by, inter alia, supporting the efforts of African Governments through appropriate capacity-building activities, including training of relevant officers, disseminating information about refugee instruments and principles and providing financial, technical and advisory services to accelerate the enactment or amendment and implications of legislation relating to refugees; appeals to Governments, UN, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the international community to create conditions to facilitate the voluntary return and the early rehabilitation and reintegration of refugees; appeals to the international community to respond positively, in the spirit of solidarity and burden-sharing, to the 3rd country resettlement requests of African refugees; urges the international community to continue to fund the general refugee programmes of UNHCR, taking into account the substantially increased needs of programmes in Africa; requests all Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to pay particular attention to meeting the special needs of refugee women and children.

Adopted without vote, 70th meeting

4 p.

Adopted at the 70th plenary meeting, 12 Dec. 1997.