CM/Res.1333 (LIV)
RESOLUTION ON THE SITUATION OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS IN AFRICA
The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, meeting in i ts Fifty-fourth Ordinary Session in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria, from 27 May to 1 June 1991,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General and the activity report of the OAU Commission of Fifteen on the plight of refugees and displaced persons in Africa,
Considering the influx of refugees and displaced persons that continued to occur in various parts of Africa and place an extra burden on the countries of asylum,
Noting with grave concern the ever-widening gap between the assessed needs of the refugees and displaced persons on the one hand, and the resources made available by the international community on the other, to meet these needs,
Noting with appreciation the efforts being deployed by Member States to promote voluntary repatriation, resettlement, and rehabilitation of returnees and displaced persons,
Noting the sacrifices made by the countries of asylum, despite their economic difficulties, to give asylum to refugees and displaced persons in the spirit of African solidarity and cooperation,
Convinced that voluntary repatriation constitutes a lasting solution to the problem of refugees in Africa,
Aware of the fact that the elimination of the root causes of the problem of refugees will lead to a global solution to this deplorable sit uation,
Noting further with appreciation the activities of the international community, especially the office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in conjunction with Governmental, non-governmental and voluntary agencies in favor of refugees and displaced persons:
TAKES NOTE of the report of the OAU Commission of Fifteen on Refugees and the report of the Secretary-General;
EXPRESSES its gratitude to the Member States that have been granting asylum and extending assistance to refugees and displaced persons;
APPEALS to Member States to comply with the provisions of the 1969 OAU Convention relating to the Status of Refugees in Africa and, furthermore, APPEALS to those countries that have not yet done so to ratify this Convention as soon as possible;
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APPEALS ONCE MORE to the donor community to increase its resources to meet the assessed needs of refugees and displaced persons to promote voluntary repatriation, resettlement and rehabilitation of these persons, and to eliminate the root causes of the problem of refugees;
CONGRATULATES Member States that have taken steps to promote the voluntary return, resettlement and rehabilitation of refugees and displaced persons and APPEALS to other Member States concerned to strive to promote conditions conducive to the voluntary repatriation of refugees;
REQUESTS the African Group both in Geneva and New York, in close collaboration and cooperation with the OAU Committee of Fifteen on Refugees, to redouble their efforts in conducting sensitization campaigns Relating to the plight of refugees and displaced persons in order to revive the Political will of the international community for increases assistance to Refugees and displaced persons;
EXPRESSES its appreciation to the Office of the UNHCR for its contribution in alleviating the plight of the refugees problem in Africa and URGES it to increase its assistance to these refugees.