CM/Res.938 (XL)
RESOLUTION ON THE OAU SECRETARIAT VOLUNTARY AGENCIES MEETING HELD IN ARUSHA, TANZANIA
21 TO 26 MARCH 1983
The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity meeting in its Fortieth Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 27 February to 5 March 1984,
Recalling its Resolution CM/868 (XXVII) operative para. 12 adopted in Nairobi, Kenya in June 1981 requesting the Generals Secretariat of the OAU “to convene as early as possible a meeting of all voluntary agencies having refugee programmes in Africa in order to develop a co-ordinating strategy and map out further action”,
Mindful of the ever-pressing nature of the refugee problem in Africa which calls for the concerted effort of both the African countries as well as international community,
Recognizing the urgent need to bring about lasting and durable solutions to the African refugee problem,
Recognizing further the special and complex nature of the refugee problem obtaining in Southern Africa:
COMMENDS the Secretary-General for the holding of the first-ever meeting of the OAU Secretariat and Voluntary Agencies, held from 21 to 26 March 1983 in Arusha, Tanzania;
EXPRESSES ITS APPRECIATION and GRATITUDE to all the voluntary agencies and organizations which constituted the task force for the planning and execution of the aforementioned meeting, as well as those which contributed financially and materially to the holding of the meeting;
APPRECIATES the interest, support and assistance demonstrated by all the participating agencies and notes the report of the Secretary-General a.i. on the OAU Secretariat and Voluntary Agencies meeting;
CALLS UPON those Member States with few refugees or with no refugees at all to render maximum material, financial and technical assistance to countries of asylum and particularly to the Frontline States and to consider accepting some refugees into their countries in the spirit of the principle of burden-sharing as enshrined in the Arusha Conference recommendations of 1979.