Military Attacks on Refugee Camps and Settlements in Southern Africa and Elsewhere

No. 27 (XXXIII) - 1982

The Executive Committee,

(a) Stressed the fundamental importance of respecting the relevant principles of international humanitarian law as reflected in the note prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner (EC/SCP/25);

(b) Expressed the conviction that the Office of the High Commissioner can substantially contribute, within the scope of its mandate, to the endeavours of other bodies also concerned with the problem and assist them in discharging their respective responsibilities in this regard, while maintaining the humanitarian and non-political character of his Office;

(c) Expressed its profound concern at the problem of continuing military attacks on refugee camps and settlements, as illustrated by the recent tragic cruel and inhuman events in Lebanon which have rightly been unanimously condemned, and expressed the hope that measures would be taken to protect refugees against such attacks and to aid the victims;

(d) Welcomed the appointment by the High Commissioner of Ambassador Schnyder to carry out a survey of the various aspects of the problem of military attacks on refugee camps and settlements of concern to UNHCR and, in taking note with appreciation of his preliminary report on the matter (EC/SCP/23) expressed the hope that this survey would lead to the adoption of measures which would make refugee camps and settlements safer from military attacks than they have so far been;

(e) Stressed the urgency of the matter and hoped to receive the final report of Ambassador Schnyder as soon as possible and to have an opportunity to discuss its contents at an early date and in any case not later than September 1983.