International Conference on the Plight of Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in Southern Africa: resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

A/RES/45/137

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 44/136 of 15 December 1989,

Gravely concerned about the continuous deterioration of the situation in southern Africa arising from the domination and oppression of the people of South Africa by the minority racist regime of South Africa,

Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,

Conscious of its responsibility to provide economic, material and humanitarian assistance to independent States in southern Africa in order to assist them in coping with the situation resulting from the acts of aggression and destabilization committed by the apartheid regime of South Africa,

Noting with appreciation the consultations undertaken by the Secretary-General to establish within the United Nations system a mechanism to ensure the implementation and overall co-ordination of relief programmes for internally displaced persons,

Convinced of the necessity to strengthen the capacity of the identified focal points within the United Nations system for the implementation and the overall co-ordination of relief programmes for internally displaced persons,

Noting with indignation that South Africa's policy of apartheid and its direct and indirect acts of aggression, intimidation and destabilization through armed terrorists continue to be the main causes of refugee flows and increasing displacement of persons in southern Africa,

Convinced also that there is an urgent need for the international community to extend maximum and concerted assistance to southern African countries sheltering refugees, returnees and displaced persons and also to highlight the plight to these persons,

1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;

2. Reaffirms the need to continue the implementation of the Oslo Declaration and Plan of Action on the Plight of Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in Southern Africa adopted by the International Conference on the Plight of Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in Southern Africa, held at Oslo from 22 to 24 August 1988;

3. Expresses its gratitude to the countries and organizations that have given assistance to the countries of southern Africa to enable them to cope with the situation of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in their territories;

4. Calls upon the international community to provide increased assistance to the countries of southern Africa to enable them to strengthen their capacity to provide the necessary facilities and services for the care and well-being of the refugees, returnees and displaced persons in their territories;

5. Reiterates its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his efforts, on behalf of the international community, to organize and mobilize special programmes of economic assistance for the front-line and other neighbouring States to help them to withstand the effects of the acts of aggression and destabilization committed by the apartheid regime of South Africa;

6. Notes with appreciation the efforts made by the Secretary-General, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme to implement the specific tasks and responsibilities assigned to them in the Oslo Declaration and Plan of Action, and encourages them to continue their efforts;

7. Endorses the recommendation of the Secretary-General aimed at assigning to the United Nations resident co-ordinators the function of co-ordinating assistance for internally displaced persons, in close co-operation with Governments, local representatives of donor countries and United Nations agencies in the field;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to strengthen the capacity of the identified focal points at the field level to enable them to respond more effectively to government requests for assistance to refugees and displaced persons;

9. Once again urges all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system and governmental and non-governmental organizations to undertake the measures required of them under the Oslo Declaration and Plan of Action;

10. Decides to consider this question at its forty-sixth session on the basis of a report to be submitted by the Secretary-General.