CM/Res.808 (XXXV)
RESOLUTION ON ASSISTANCE TO AFRICAN COUNTRIES AFFECTED BY DROUGHT, DESERTIFICATION AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS
The Council of Ministers of the Organization of Africa Unity meeting in its Thirty- fifth Ordinary Session in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from 18 to 28 June, 1980,
Noting the persistence of drought that has been afflicting certain countries in Africa;
Recalling resolution CM/Res.743 (XXXIII) adopted in Monrovia in July 1979 on the OAU Plan of Action for the Control of Desertification, Drought and Other Natural Disasters and especially for food security in the affected countries,
Recalling the Plan of Action for the implementation of the Monrovia Strategy for African Development adopted by the Second Extra-ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of Africa at the Economic Summit held in Lagos on 28 to 29 April 1980,
Noting that short-falls in food production continue to occur in some African countries as a consequence of drought,
Recognizing that drought, desertification and other disaster affected countries in Africa continue to receive such assistance from the international community:
URGENTLY CALLS on Member States of the OAU, which are in a position to do so, to render immediate relief assistance to drought affected countries in Africa as a manifestation of the unity and solidarity of the African continent;
REQUESTS the OAU Secretary-General to take immediate steps, in the face of the crisis resulting from drought or other natural disasters to mobilize and ensure effective assistance of the relevant UN Agencies, ADB, BADEA and other possible donors;
URGENTLY REQUESTS the OAU Secretary-General to comsider immediately a meeting of the Standing Committee on Drought and other Natural Disasters to review the medium and long term preliminary programme of action in light of the Lagos Plan of Action and to determine the use which could be made of the OAU Assistance Fund;
URGENTLY APPEALS to the Member States which have not done so, to pay their contribution and arrears to the OAU Assistance Fund in the shortest possible time;
REQUESTS the OAU Secretary-General to implement, in line with actions already undertaken for the Joint Project 31 (PC-31) and in co-operation with the United Nations Specialized Agencies and the appropriate sub-regional organization, projects aimed at building up security food reserves at national, sub-regional and regional levels;
HIGHLY COMMENDS the co-operation of countries and international institutions which gave an assistance to the countries affected by desertification, drought and other natural disasters and urgently APPEALS to the international community to give more help to the countries affected by these disasters
REQUESTS the OAU Secretary-General to pay a particular attention to the present resolution and to submit an interim report to the next session of the Council.