CM/Res.868 (XXXVII)
RESOLUTION ON THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES IN AFRICA (ICARA) AND
ON ITS FOLLOW-UP
The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, meeting in its Thirty-seventh Ordinary Session in Nairobi, Kenya from 15 to 26 June 1981,
Having considered the Report of the Secretary-General on the International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa (ICARA) – Document CM/1130
(XXXVII) Rev.1 and its Annexes and Addenda – particularly with regard to the follow up actions to be taken,
Having also considered the document entitled “Meeting of the OAU Secretariat with the Secretariats of the United Nations System” – Document CM/1153 (XXXVII) – and in particular its paragraphs 20 and 22 on the refugee situation,
Convinced that the participation of high-ranking officials and representatives of 99 countries and over 120 non-governmental organizations in ICARA bears evidence to the fact that the Conference drew international public attention to the situation and needs of African refugees,
Recognizing the need of the countries of asylum for adequate human, technical and financial assistance to properly shoulder their increased responsibilities and to enable them to assume the additional burden which the presence of refugees is for their economies,
Further recognizing the need to assist similarly the countries of origin in the repatriation and resettlement of returnees as set out in the UNHCR procedures,
Bearing in mind the need for the OAU to formulate its approaches to refugee situations and to their solutions in a manner which should always be commensurate
with their magnitude, urgency and complexity, but also be dynamic and flexible enough to cope with the exigencies imposed by the ever-increasing numbers of refugees and the changing conditions of asylum-seeking, as well as with the responsibilities that such situations dictate,
Considering the joint responsibility entrusted to the OAU, the UN and the UNHCR for the follow-up and the implementation of assistance projects submitted to ICARA,
Considering further the importance of the projects submitted by African countries affected by refugee problems,
Recalling its resolution CM/826 (XXXVI) on ICARA, and more particularly its operative paragraphs 8, 10, 11, and 12 which define the broad lines of a strategy for future action:
EXPRESSES its deep appreciation and gratitude to all the donor countries and to the international community at large for their very positive response to the appeal for assistance to African refugees, and for their generous contributions to the assistance to refugees in Africa;
REITERATES its congratulations to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for his efforts towards the preparation of ICARA, in close consultation with the OAU Secretary-General and the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees, as well as for his personal concern for African refugee problems and for the very able manner in which he had presided over the conference thus bringing it to a successful end;
REQUESTS the OAU Secretary-General to inform Member States about measures taken and the machinery contemplated and the necessary time frame for the implementation of projects submitted within the framework of ICARA;
REQUESTS FURTHER the Secretary-General to make the necessary arrangements for the OAU regional offices in Geneva to be closely involved in the drawing up of courses of action and to inform about the decisions taken regarding the implementation of programmes of assistance to refugees within the framework of ICARA;
ENTRUSTS the Secretary-General to collaborate closely with the UNHCR in the urgent implementation of specific programmes of assistance prepared in collaboration with UNHCR by the African countries affected by problems of refugees;
COMMENDS the initiative taken by the three co-sponsors of ICARA, namely OAU, UN and UNHCR, to maintain their close co-operation to properly define the follow-up actions that will be called for, and INVITES them to continue with and develop their tripartite consultations, and co- operation at all appropriate levels, so that ICARA funds are channelled to priority projects and put to the best use;
INVITES all donor countries to Africa which have pledged funds during ICARA to pay their contributions to the office of the UNHCR at their earliest convenience, as refugee sufferings warrant urgent action;
FURTHER INVITES all friendly countries which have not yet done so to generously contribute to the funds raised by ICARA for African refugee assistance;
REQUESTS the General Secretariat of the OAU, in close co-operation with the Secretariat of the United Nations and the Office of the UNHCR, to study the submissions compiled for ICARA by the African countries with a view to urgently determining the needs for further feasibility studies to be undertaken with the assistance of the competent authorities at the national level, and to suggest priorities for project implementation;
CALLS UPON the United Nations Organization and its specialized agencies to convene, as early as feasible, an inter-agency meeting to define the role and programmes which each one of these bodies within the UN family will assume, to contribute to refugee assistance in African countries, and meanwhile to respond positively to requests for technical assistance which will be needed to undertake feasibility studies and accurate date collection, and to carry out fact-finding missions related to projects submitted to ICARA;
CALLS UPON the pertinent development orientated organizations and agencies of the United Nations system to envisage, at the stages of conception and implementation, all concerted efforts and co-ordinated actions aimed at harmonizing assistance programmes in the countries of asylum as well as in the countries of origin, during the repatriation process, the current or future development programmes, so that the potentialities of refugees or returnees may constitute an advantage rather than a burden on national development;