658 Economic and social questions

Chapter XV Refugees and displaced persons

While the number of refugees swelled to over 12 The Nansen Medal, awarded since 1954 in million in 1988, some events occurred that honour of Fridtjof Nansen, the first League of Na- offered hope for solutions for nearly half the tions High Commissioner for Refugees, went in world’s refugee population. The signing of an 1988 to Syed Munir Hussain, Secretary of the agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan States and Frontier Regions Ministry of Pakistan created an opportunity for millions of Afghans, from 1982 to 1987. The Medal was awarded for constituting the world’s largest refugee popula- his supervision of the world’s largest refugee as- tion, to return to their country, and the return of sistance programme-the Afghan refugee relief more than 80,000 Ugandans from the Sudan was operation-for the Pakistani Government. the largest such movement anywhere in the world. Progress was made towards securing the independence of Namibia, which in turn paved the way for the organized return home of several UNHCR programme and finances thousand Namibians. Other large refugee repatriation movements in 1988 included Burun- dians, Chadians, Ethiopians, Mozambicans and Programme policy Zimbabweans; Iraqi Kurds; Sri Lankan Tamils; Executive Committee action. At its thirty- and Central Americans. ninth session (Geneva, 3-10 October 1988) the Ex- The impact of those positive achievements was ecutive Committee of the Programme of the United qualified, however, by an increase in the number Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,(1) em- of refugees and asylum-seekers world-wide. This phasizing the importance of dealing with the un- was especially true in Africa, where hundreds of derlying causes of refugee movements, called on thousands of Somalis and Sudanese sought refuge the High Commissioner to continue his efforts to in Ethiopia, and several thousand Ethiopians, provide international protection through voluntary Mozambicans and Sudanese fled to neighbouring repatriation, local integration in countries of first countries. Those same tendencies also occurred in asylum or resettlement in third countries. The Com- South-East Asia, where the number of asylum- mittee expressed its concern about the lack of ade- seekers rose by more than 11 per cent over 1987, quate international protection for various groups and in Europe, where the number increased by of refugees, including a large number of Palestin- almost one third. ians, and hoped that efforts would continue within While more States acceded to the major inter- the United Nations system to address their protection national instruments on refugees, bringing the needs. (Palestinian refugees are dealt with in PART total number of signatories to 106 to the 1951 Con- TWO, Chapter IV.) States were urged to abide by vention relating to the Status of Refugees, its 1967 international prohibitions against expulsion and Protocol, or both, there was also an increase in ac- refoulement, or forcible return, of refugees, and were tions by States that deteriorated the plight of called on, along with the High Commissioner and asylum-seekers, posing a threat to the humanita- others, to ensure the protection of refugees from rian institution of asylum. arbitrary detention and violence. The Committee The General Assembly endorsed the Oslo further encouraged all States hosting refugees to Declaration and Plan of Action, adopted by the consider ways of facilitating their employment, invited International Conference on the Plight of Refu- States to promote measures favourable to stateless gees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in South- persons and called on the High Commissioner to ern Africa, which called for international action implement measures intended to address the irregu- in the fields of protection, assistance, refugee aid lar movement to other countries of refugees who and development, emergency preparedness, pub- had found protection. lic information and mobilization of resources to Regarding the promotion and dissemination of deal with the deteriorating humanitarian situation refugee law, the Committee called on States that in southern Africa (resolution 43/116). The Assem- had not done so to accede to the 1951 Conven- bly also welcomed decisions to hold conferences tion (2) and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Sta- on Indo-Chinese (43/119) and Central American tus of Refugees,(3) and, if applicable, to the 1969 (43/118) refugees in 1989. Organization of African Unity (OAU) Convention Refugees and displaced persons 659 governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Prob- ence on the Plight of Refugees, Returnees and Dis- (4) lems in Africa, in. order to ensure the widest placed Persons in Southern Africa (see below), the possible application of the basic principles of Executive Committee requested the High Com- refugee law. It urged States to initiate or partici- missioner to ensure their implementation and to pate in training courses in refugee law and pro- participate in formulating strategies for rendering tection, and requested the Office of the High humanitarian assistance to internally displaced Commissioner ( UNHCR) to provide information persons. The High Commissioner was further re- to the Committee on specific promotional activi- quested to report to the Committee at its next ses- ties world-wide, including their financial impli- sion on the role of UNHCR in implementing the cations. Declaration and Plan of Action. On the subject of international solidarity and Within the framework of strengthening pro- refugee protection, the Committee, stressing that gramme planning, implementation and monitor- the principle of international solidarity was fun- ing, the Committee endorsed the High Commis- damental in encouraging a humanitarian ap- sioner’s efforts in creating special programmes for proach to granting asylum and in implementing refugee women and children, training staff, and international protection in general, invited all providing technical support, evaluation services States to support the protection functions of the and the specifications and means of delivering sup- High Commissioner, as well as to abide by their plies and food aid, and called on him to continue own humanitarian responsibilities towards refu- to provide assistance to refugees under the care gees, particularly to safeguard the right to seek and of national liberation movements recognized by enjoy asylum from persecution and to ensure full OAU and the United Nations. respect for the principle of non-refoulement. The Committee called on the High Commis- The Committee recommended that States and sioner to encourage further study of the issue of UNHCR take into account the following guidelines durable solutions to the refugee problem, and ap- when dealing with cases of stowaway asylum- pealed to Governments to continue to create and seekers: stowaways must be protected against for- promote conditions conducive to attaining such so- cible return to their country of origin; they should lutions. It supported UNHCR'S promotion of be allowed to disembark at the first port of call and voluntary repatriation as the preferred long-term have their refugee status determined by the solution, and called for more resources to be authorities without implying a lasting solution in devoted to that goal. When voluntary repatriation that country; and UNHCR should be requested to was not feasible, UNHCR was encouraged to pro- assist in finding a durable solution for those found mote local integration and resettlement. to be refugees. The Committee made a number of recommen- As to the special needs of refugee women, the dations regarding refugee aid and development. Committee called for the reinforcement of meas- Recognizing the need to ensure compatibility be- ures to enhance their physical security and called tween refugee aid and the national development on host Governments to strengthen their support plans of developing refugee-asylum countries, the of UNHCR's protection activities as they related to Committee recommended that low-income asylum women. Relevant Governments were also called on countries be provided with assistance to strengthen to support the Special Resettlement Programme their social and economic infrastructure to enable for Women-at-Risk. The High Commissioner was them to cope with the burden of dealing with large encouraged to expand his public information ac- numbers of refugees and returnees. It called on tivities relating to refugee women and to develop Governments and the High Commissioner to provide training modules on the special needs of refugee technical support to developing countries in needs women and the means of addressing them. The assessment, formulation of concrete projects and Committee requested the High Commissioner to plans of action in areas hosting large numbers of provide at its next session a detailed progress re- refugees. The Committee further expressed its desire port on the implementation of policies and pro- that the issue of refugee aid and development re- grammes for refugee women, and called on host ceive prominent attention by the Sub-Committee countries, the donor community and non- on Administrative and Financial Matters in 1989, governmental organizations (NGOs) to support the and requested UNHCR to submit to the Executive High Commissioner in implementing that pro- Committee at its session that year a report describing gramme. in detail the role and mandate of UNHCR and the The Committee welcomed plans to organize in- breakdown of financial resources being allocated ternational conferences on Indo-Chinese and Cen- to developing asylum countries. tral American refugees in 1989, and called on the international community to support them (see GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION below). Regarding the Oslo Declaration and Plan On 8 December 1988, on the recommendation of Action, adopted by the International Confer- of the Third (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) 660 Economic and social questions

Committee, the General Assembly adopted reso- achieved through a development-oriented approach and lution 43/117 without vote. that the heavy burden placed on a host country as a re- sult of growing influxes of refugees requires sufficient Office of the United Nations High resources to redress the negative impact and the strain Commissioner for Refugees on its socio-economic infrastructure in rural and urban The General Assembly, areas, Having considered the report of the United Nations High Welcoming the conclusions and decisions on refugee aid Commissioner for Refugees on the activities of his Of- and development adopted by the Executive Committee fice, as well as the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the High Commissioner at its of the Programme of the High Commissioner on the thirty-ninth session as a tangible recognition of the need work of its thirty-ninth sessions, and having heard the to ensure the compatibility of refugee aid and national statements made by the High Commissioner on 16 and development plans of the developing asylum countries, 18 November 1988, Commending those States that, despite severe economic Recalling its resolution 42/109 of 7 December 1987, and development problems of their own, continue to Reaffirming the purely humanitarian and non-political admit large numbers of refugees and displaced persons character of the activities of the Office of the High Com- of concern to the Office of the High Commissioner into missioner, which are undertaken in the common interest their territories, and emphasizing the need to share the of humanity, burden of these States to the maximum extent possible Noting with satisfaclion that, following recent accessions, through international assistance, in accordance with the more than one hundred States are now parties to the conclusions on refugee aid and development adopted 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the by the Executive Committee of the Programme of the Status of Refugees, High Commissioner at its thirty-ninth session, Noting with concern that, despite developments that offer Stressing the need for the international community to hope for solutions to refugee problems, refugees and dis- continue to provide adequate resettlement opportuni- placed persons of concern to the High Commissioner ties for those refugees for whom no other durable solu- continue to face, in certain situations, distressingly seri- tion may be in sight, with particular attention given to ous problems, refugees who have already spent an inordinately long Particularly concerned that in various regions the safety time in camps, and welfare of refugees and asylum-seekers continue to Welcoming the valuable support extended by Govern- be seriously jeopardized on account of military or armed ments to the High Commissioner in carrying out his attacks and other forms of violence, and noting that fur- humanitarian tasks, and recognizing the need for con- ther efforts should be made in dealing with the prob- tinuing and increasing co-operation between the Office lem of rescuing asylum-seekers in distress at sea and, of the High Commissioner and other bodies of the in this context, also noting the problems relating to United Nations system and with intergovernmental and stowaway asylum-seekers, non-governmental organizations, Stressing the fundamental importance of the High Also welcoming the decision of the Executive Commit- Commissioner’s function to provide international pro- tee of the Programme of the High Commissioner at its tection, particularly in the context of the increasing com- thirty-ninth session to open sessions of its two sub- plexity of the contemporary refugee problem, and the committees and informal meetings to participation as need for States to co-operate with the High Commis- observers by States Members of the United Nations and sioner in the exercise of this essential function, members of the specialized agencies which are not mem- Noting the efforts of the High Commissioner to con- bers of the Executive Committee, tinue to address the special problems and needs of refu- Noting the High Commissioner’s continuing efforts to gee and displaced women and children, who in many improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Office, cases are exposed to a variety of difficult situations af- particularly in strengthening field activities and respon- fecting their physical and legal protection as well as their sibilities, psychological and material well-being, Commending the High Commissioner and his staff for Emphasizing the need for States to assist, on as wide the dedicated manner in which they discharge their a basis as possible, the efforts of the High Commissioner responsibilities, and paying tribute to those staff mem- to promote speedy and durable solutions to the prob- bers who have endangered their lives in the course of lems of refugees, their duties, Realizing in this context that voluntary repatriation or 1. Strongly reaffiirms the fundamental nature of the return remains the most desirable solution to the prob- function of the United Nations High Commissioner for lems facing refugees and displaced persons of concern Refugees to provide international protection and the to the High Commissioner, and welcoming the fact that need for Governments to co-operate fully with his Of- in various parts of the world it has been possible for sig- fice in order to facilitate the effective exercise of this func- nificant numbers of them to return voluntarily to their tion, in particular by acceding to and implementing the countries of origin, relevant international and regional refugee instruments Recognizing that the enhancement of basic economic and by scrupulously observing the principles of asylum and social rights is essential to the achievement of self- and non-refoulemnent; sufficiency and family security for refugees, as well as 2. Endorses, in this regard, the conclusions on inter- to the process of re-establishing the dignity of the human national solidarity and refugee protection adopted by person and realizing durable solutions to refugee the Executive Committee of the Programme of the High problems, Commissioner at its thirty-ninth session; Recognizing that durable solutions for refugees in de- 3. Notes with particular concern the continued violation, veloping countries can, in the majority of cases, be in certain situations, of the principle of non-refoulement, Refugees and displaced persons 661 recalls existing prohibitions as contained in conclusions or temporary basis, large numbers of refugees and 4 and 5 adopted by the Executive Committee of the Pro- asylum-seekers; gramme of the High Commissioner at its twenty-eighth 14. Urges the international community, in accordance session, stresses the need to strengthen measures to pro- with the principle of international solidarity and burden- tect refugees against such action and appeals to all States sharing, to assist the above-mentioned countries in order to abide by their international obligations, taking fully to enable them to cope with the additional burden that into account their legitimate security concerns; care for refugees and asylum-seekers represents; 4. Appeals to all States that have not yet become par- 15 Supports broadly the purpose of a Project Planning ties to the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relat- Fund along the lines stipulated in paragraph 32 of the ing to the Status of Refugees to consider acceding to report of the Executive Committee of the Programme these instruments in order to enhance their universal of the High Commissioner on the work of its thirty-ninth character; session and, in particular, the following recommendations: 5. Condemns all violations of the rights and safety of (a) The Office of the High Commissioner should re- refugees and asylum-seekers, in particular those per- main a focal point for encouraging refugee-related tech- petrated by military or armed attacks against refugee nical assistance and capital investment in developing asy- camps and settlements and other forms of violence; lum countries; 6. Endorses once again the conclusions on military and (b) Assistance to refugees should be additional to armed attacks on refugee camps and settlements adopted funds earmarked for development programmes in de- by the Executive Committee of the Programme of the veloping asylum countries; High Commissioner at its thirty-eighth session, and (c) The High Commissioner should be requested to again calls upon all States to observe these principles; prepare a comprehensive report in which the nature and 7. Commends the High Commissioner for the work operational aspects of the Project Planning Fund and the undertaken by his Office to identify and meet the spe- mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner, as well cial needs of refugee children and, in particular, for the as the role of development-oriented agencies and non- guidelines of the Office on refugee children, and invites governmental organizations, would be clearly defined; the High Commissioner to pursue his efforts on behalf 16. Recognizes with appreciation the work done by the of refugee children, drawing on the valuable contribu- High Commissioner to put into practice the concept of tions that non-governmental organizations continue to development-oriented assistance to refugees and make in this area; returnees, as initiated at the Second International Con- 8. Endorses the conclusions on refugee women ference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa and adopted by the Executive Committee of the Programme reaffirmed in the Oslo Declaration and Plan of Action of the High Commissioner at its thirty-ninth session, adopted by the International Conference on the Plight and urges States to extend their full co-operation to the of Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in South- High Commissioner in his efforts to ensure that the spe- ern Africa, urges the High Commissioner to continue cial needs of refugee women in the fields of protection, that process, wherever appropriate, in full co-operation assistance and durable solutions are met; with appropriate international agencies, and further 9. Notes the close connection between the problems urges Governments to support these efforts; of refugees and of stateless persons and invites States 17. Emphasizes the essential role of development- actively to explore and promote measures favourable to oriented organizations and agencies in the implemen- stateless persons in accordance with international law; tation of programmes that benefit refugees and 10. Recognizes the importance of fair and expeditious returnees, urges the High Commissioner and those or- procedures for determining refugee status and/or grant- ganizations and agencies, in accordance with their ing asylum in order, inter alia, to protect refugees and respective mandates, to strengthen their mutual co- asylum-seekers from unjustified or unduly prolonged de- operation towards the attainment of durable solutions, tention or stay in camps, and urges States to establish and calls upon the High Commissioner to continue to such procedures; promote such co-operation; 11. Recognizes the importance of achieving durable so- 18. Welcomes the various initiatives undertaken by the lutions to refugee problems and, in particular, the need High Commissioner in regard to the promotion and dis- to address in this process the root causes of refugee move- semination of the principles of refugee law and protec- ments in order to avert new flows of refugees, taking tion and calls upon his Office, in co-operation with into account the report of the Group of Governmental Governments, to intensify its activities in this area, bear- Experts on International Co-operation to Avert New ing in mind the need, in particular, to develop practi- Flows of Refugees, and to facilitate the solution of ex- cal applications of refugee law and principles and to con- isting problems; tinue to organize training courses for governmental and 12. Urges all States to support the High Commis- other officials involved in refugee activities; sioner in his efforts to achieve durable solutions to the 19. Calls upon all Governments to contribute, in a problem of refugees and displaced persons of concern spirit of international solidarity and burden-sharing and to his Office, primarily through voluntary repatriation in every way feasible, to the High Commissioner’s pro- or return, including assistance to returnees as appropri- grammes with the aim of ensuring that the needs of refu- ate, or, wherever appropriate, through integration into gees, returnees and displaced persons of concern to the countries of asylum or through resettlement in third High Commissioner are met. countries; 13. Expresses deep appreciation for the valuable material General Assembly resolution 43/117 and humanitarian response of receiving countries, in 8 December 1988 Meeting 75 Adopted without vote particular those developing countries which, despite Approved by Third Committee (A/43/874) without vote, 23 November (meet- limited resources, continue to admit, on a permanent ing 51); 38-nation draft (A/C.3/43/L.59); agenda item 102. 662 Economic and social questions

Sponsors: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Cyprus. Denmark, El Sal- vador. Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Federal Republic of, Greece, 1987 accounts Guatemala. Honduras. Iceland. Italy, Japan. Netherlands. New Zealand. The audited financial statements on funds ad- Nicaragua, Nigeria. Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Portugal; Rwanda. Senegal, Somalia, Spain. Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden. Thailand. ministered by UNHCR for the year ended 31 De- (7) United Kingdom, Zaire. Zambia. Zimbabwe. cember 1987 showed a total expenditure of Meeting numbers, GA43rd session: 3rd Committee 44, 45, 47, 48, 50. 51; plenary 75. $461.4 million and a total income of $475.6 mil- lion. In October 1988, the Executive Committee took note of the report of the Sub-Committee on Financial and administrative questions Administrative and Financial Matters(8) and the UNHCR voluntary funds expenditure in 1988 report of the Advisory Committee on Administra- (5) amounted to $545.5 million, compared to tive and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).(9) $461.4 million in 1987.(6) Of that, $395 million On 21 December, in resolution 43/216, the was spent on General Programmes and $150.2 mil- General Assembly accepted the financial reports lion went to Special Programmes and other trust and audited financial statements of UNHCR and funds. Total income for 1988 amounted to $529.1 endorsed the observations and recommendations (7) million, compared to $475.6 million in 1987. of the Board of Auditors and ACABQ Although financial support from the donor com- munity in 1988 was the highest ever received by REFERENCES UNHCR, it was inadequate to cover all programme (l)A/43/12/Add.l. (2)YUN 1951, p, 520. (3)YUN 1967, p. 769. needs. Against a General Programmes budget of (4)YUN 1969, 470. (5)A/44/5/Add.5. (6)A/44/12. (7) (8) (9) $420 million, $395 million was spent. However, A/43/5/Add.5. A/AC. 96/719. A/43/674 & Corr.1. combined contributions and secondary income amounted to only $385 million, forcing the High Commissioner to seek donor approval to advance Refugee assistance and protection funds from the 1989 General Programmes reserve to cover the shortfall. Special appeals were issued in 1988 to meet the needs of new refugee emergency situations, such Assistance as Mozambican refugees in southern Africa, During 1988, as in previous years, UNHCR co- Somali and Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia, operated with concerned Governments and the in- Burundi refugees in Rwanda and Iraqi Kurds in ternational community to meet the humanitarian Iran. Appeals were also made to cover the finan- needs of refugees world-wide.(1) Those efforts cial requirements of returnee programmes in Af- centred on the promotion of durable solutions, ghanistan, Burundi, Central America, Ethiopia, namely, voluntary repatriation, local integration Sri Lanka, Uganda and Viet Nam, as well as other in the country of first asylum or resettlement in activities outside the General Programmes. another country. In 1988, $239 million was ob- In October, the UNHCR Executive Committee ligated for the promotion of those solutions. Of approved a target of $428.8 million for General that amount, $27.8 million was made available Programmes in 1989. under Special Programmes for the rehabilitation Efforts made in 1988 to expand the donor base of returnees in their country of origin. The largest and increase contributions to voluntary funds were voluntary repatriation movement of the year was successful, as the number of donors increased by the spontaneous return of more than 80,000 Ugan- 19.6 per cent and income increased by 18.2 per cent. dan refugees. Other major repatriation movements involved a number of African refugee groups, Sri Contributions Lankan Tamils from India, Iraqi Kurds and Cen- Contributions in cash and in kind in 1988 to- tral Americans. Resettlement in a third country talled $482.7 million, compared to $427.9 million continued to be the only feasible option for a sig- in 1987. Paid cash contributions amounted to nificant number of refugees, including more than $339.8 million in 1988, and outstanding cash 50,000 Indo-Chinese. U NHCR expenditure for pledges amounted to $86 million. Contributions promotion of resettlement and transportation of in kind amounted to $9.6 million, with an addi- refugees amounted to $18.8 million under General tional $47.3 million outstanding. In addition to Programmes. those contributions, $3,694,608 ($834,948 from Where political or other factors precluded rapid Canada and $2,859,660 from the European Eco- identification of durable solutions, UNHCR nomic Community) was transferred to the World provided intermediate assistance including food, Bank for administration and implementation of shelter, water, health services and sanitation, cloth- the Income-Generating Project for Refugee Areas ing, household utensils and basic education. In in Pakistan. Intergovernmental organizations 1988, the largest care and maintenance pro- provided $47.6 million, while NGOs and private gramme was that for Afghan refugees in Pakistan, sources provided $6.8 million. for which $43.3 million was obligated under the Refugees and displaced persons 663

General Programmes. Over $6.2 million of that assistance activities were consistent with the dura- was devoted to income-generating and self- ble solutions envisaged in various country pro- sufficiency activities, another major UNHCR as- grammes. Major evaluations of country and sistance area during 1988. Care and maintenance regional programmes were carried out in the Horn programmes were also implemented in Ethiopia, of Africa, western and southern Africa and Latin Malawi, Somalia and Thailand. At the same time, America. During 1988, the UNHCR self-evaluation refugee operations were recognized as vehicles for system underwent the first major change since its economic development. In many cases, UNHCR introduction in 1980, with self-evaluations being redirected its operational expenditures to local prepared for all major operational activities rather businesses in order to benefit both host countries than for individual projects. and refugees. To consolidate UNHCR activities aimed at pro- UNHCR emergency activities fell into the two tecting and assisting refugee women, the UNHCR broad categories of response and preparedness. Steering Committee on Refugee Women was es- Frequently UNHCR was forced to resort to its tablished in February 1988 under the chairman- Emergency Fund, which allowed the High Com- ship of the Deputy High Commissioner. The missioner to allocate up to $10 million annually. Committee was to assess, review and develop poli- In 1988, $9.9 million from that Fund was used, cies, procedures and guidelines; promote public mainly in response to emergencies in Africa and awareness of refugee women’s problems; and en- South-West Asia. UNHCR participated in a co- sure the availability of adequate human resources ordinated effort by the United Nations to promote for the staffing of activities. national emergency preparedness in southern In response to a decision of the Executive Com- Africa. Other preparedness activities included mittee (see above), UNHCR formulated a detailed management training and development of resource work-plan with a view to integrating the needs of materials, an early warning project and a feasi- refugee women into the mainstream. Efforts con- bility study on establishing emergency stockpiles. centrated on institutional changes aimed at ensur- Social services continued during the year, with ing that the needs of women were systematically an emphasis on promoting the self-sufficiency of considered and regularly reported on. refugees. A total of 70 refugee counselling projects Approximately half the world’s refugees were were implemented in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin children under 18 years of age. Accordingly, the America and the Middle East, at a cost of $4.3 newly established Working Group on Refugee million. These included provision of information Children focused on developing guidelines for field on the availability and use of community resources offices in their activities concerning refugee chil- and establishment of referral links to facilitate ac- dren. In August, UNHCR distributed to its officers cess to employment, training and education, and relevant organizations Guidelines on Refugee Chil- health services, housing and social security. Med- dren, which addressed issues such as determination ical facilities and physical, social and mental treat- of refugee status for children, the situation of un- ment and rehabilitation support were made avail- accompanied minors and the effects on children able to some 13,000 disabled refugees in several of extended residence in refugee camps. asylum countries at a cost of $1.1 million. Primary education continued to be provided Assistance to refugees in Africa through multisectoral projects. Post-primary, voca- The overall number of refugees in Africa in- tional/technical and academic education was creased during 1988. Refugees continued to flee provided by 110 UNHCR programmes. UNHCR from Mozambique into Malawi and from the promoted co-ordination among the education Sudan into south-western Ethiopia, and two new ministries of Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe influxes occurred without advance warning-from in order to improve the quality of the Mozambi- north-western Somalia into eastern Ethiopia and can curriculum in refugee camps, to develop a from Burundi into Rwanda. The great majority refugee teacher-training scheme and to provide of the Burundi refugees repatriated voluntarily Mozambican textbooks to about 70,000 refugee within a few months, and other significant repatri- children. Activities had been undertaken for phas- ation movements occurred to Chad and Ethiopia ing refugee educational schemes into the national (see below). The new and continued refugee in- system of Somalia, and guidelines on primary edu- fluxes required mobilization of substantial emer- cation for refugee children were being prepared. gency assistance. Progress in promoting self- The costs of supplies for refugees and for UNHCR reliance was mixed, with benefits of better harvests operations amounted to $70.9 million in 1988, and in some countries offset by economic difficulties some $72.9 million in food aid to refugees was in many asylum countries. channelled through UNHCR. In 1988, the total expenditure in Africa under In-depth evaluations of UNHCR operations in UNHCR voluntary funds amounted to $250.1 mil- 1988 concentrated primarily on the extent to which lion, of which $175.3 million was obligated under 664 Economic and social questions

General Programmes (mainly for care and main- African countries remained at about 35,000, over tenance operations) and $74.9 million under Spe- half of whom received UNHCR assistance in 1988. cial Programmes (mainly for the needs of newly arrived refugees). Malawi In response to a 1987 Assembly resolution,(6) ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ACTION the Secretary-General in August 1988 submitted a report on assistance to refugees and displaced On 26 July, the Economic and Social Council, (7) by decision 1988/158, took note of oral reports persons in Malawi. In 1988, some 20,000 made on behalf of the Secretary-General by the Mozambicans per month fled to Malawi, result- High Commissioner on the Second International ing in a total of 552,669 as at 1 June. Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa, An inter-agency mission that visited Malawi in the International Conference on the Plight of 1987 found that the country’s rural subsistence Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in economy was under severe strain owing to the refu- Southern Africa, humanitarian assistance to refu- gee burden. Food production and water resources gees in Djibouti, assistance to refugees in Soma- in the affected areas were insufficient to satisfy the lia, the situation of refugees in the Sudan, as- needs of both the Malawi population and the dis- sistance to student refugees in southern Africa, and placed persons. The environment had been se- assistance to displaced persons in Ethiopia. verely damaged by wood-cutting and cultivation on fragile hillsides. Health, education and com- munity services were also under heavy strain. The Follow-up to the Second International mission concluded that the Malawi economy Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa would not be able to cope with the expanded emer- In response to a 1987 resolution of the General gency conditions without major support from the Assembly,(2) the Secretary-General in August (3) international community and development invest- 1988 submitted a report on follow-up activities ment. It was estimated that $90.8 million in emer- to the Second (1984) International Conference on (4) gency assistance would be required in 1988 to fi- Assistance to Refugees in Africa. nance food, water, health and education, as well Nineteen projects aimed at strengthening the so- as public works programmes designed to increase cial and economic infrastructure of host countries the amount of cultivable land and expand food to enable them to deal with large numbers of refu- production. The proposed action programme of gees and returnees had been funded in 15 African economic development initiatives addressed both countries, four of which had been completed. Plan- emergency needs and long-term development ning missions were initiated in Ethiopia, Malawi, goals. Somalia and the Sudan, and eight new projects to benefit refugees and local populations in asy- ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ACTION lum countries, to be financed through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Trust On 24 May, by decision 1988/110, the Eco- Fund for Refugee-Related Development Projects nomic and Social Council took note of an oral re- in Africa, were being prepared. As at 15 April port made by the representative of UNHCR on as- 1988, total resources under the Trust Fund sistance to refugees and displaced persons in amounted to $9,069,827, while the commitment Malawi. for project and programming activities was $6,630,530, leaving a balance of $2,439,297 for fi- GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION nancing pipeline projects and additional program- On 8 December, on the recommendation of the ming activities. Third Committee, the Assembly adopted resolu- tion 43/148 without vote. Refugees in southern Africa Assistance to refugees and displaced More than 100,000 Mozambicans received as- persons in Malawi sistance under a consolidated emergency pro- The General Assembly, gramme in the United Republic of Tanzania, Recalling its resolution 42/132 of 7 December 1987 on Zambia and Zimbabwe. By year’s end, 13,000 assistance to refugees and displaced persons in Malawi, Mozambicans had been transferred to a new set- Having considered the report of the Secretary-General tlement in Zambia. on assistance to refugees and displaced persons in Malawi, as well as on the report of the inter-agency mis- U NHCR intensified its preparations for the sion on this subject, repatriation of Namibian refugees in accordance (5) Having considered that part of the report of the United with a 1978 Security Council resolution, which Nations High Commissioner for Refugees regarding the set out a plan for Namibia’s transition to indepen- situation of refugees and displaced persons in Malawi, dence. The number of South African refugees re- Gravely concerned about the continuing serious social and ported to have found asylum in other southern economic impact of the massive presence of refugees and Refugees and displaced persons 665 displaced persons, as well as its far-reaching conse- placed persons and programmes recommended in the quences for the country’s long-term development report of the inter-agency mission; process, 7. Requests the High Commissioner to continue co- Appreciating the important measures that the Govern- ordination with the appropriate specialized agencies in ment of Malawi is taking in order to provide shelter, order to consolidate and ensure the continuation of es- protection, food, education and health and other hu- sential services to the refugees and displaced persons in manitarian services to thousands of refugees and dis- their settlements; placed persons, 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Recognising the heavy burden placed on the people and General Assembly at its forty-fourth session, through Government of Malawi and the sacrifices they are mak- the Economic and Social Council, on the implementa- ing in caring for the refugees and displaced persons, tion of the present resolution. given the country’s limited social services and infra- General Assembly resolution 43/148 structure, and the need for adequate international as- 8 December 1988 Meeting 75 Adopted without vote sistance to enable them to continue their efforts to pro- vide assistance to the refugees and displaced persons, Approved by Third Committee (A/43/868) without vote, 29 November (meet- ing 56); 23-nation draft (A/C.3/43/L.71); agenda item 12. Expressing its appreciation for the assistance rendered by sponsors: Algeria, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Greece, Member States, the various organs of the United Na- Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Philippines, tions, the Office of the United Nations High Commis- Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe. sioner for Refugees and international, intergovernmental Meeting numbers. GA 43rd session: 3rd Committee 49-56; plenary 75. and non-governmental organizations in support of the Conference on refugees in southern Africa refugee programme in Malawi, (8) Bearing in mind the findings and recommendations of The Assembly in 1987 had welcomed the the inter-agency mission to Malawi, particularly on the OAU decision to hold an International Conference need to strengthen the country’s socio-economic infra- on the Plight of Refugees, Returnees and Dis- structure in order to enable it to provide for the immedi- placed Persons in Southern Africa. The Confer- ate humanitarian relief requirements of the refugees and ence (Oslo, Norway, 22-24 August 1988)(9) displaced persons as well as the long-term national de- adopted the Oslo Declaration and Plan of Action, velopment needs of the country, which emphasized the need to link emergency aid Recognizing the need to view refugee-related develop- to development assistance activities in order to pro- ment projects within local and national development plans, mote self-sufficiency and to minimize the risk of 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General dependency. Accordingly, the Conference urged all on assistance to refugees and displaced persons in States to provide sufficient resources to support Malawi, particularly with regard to the findings and both emergency and development programmes on recommendations of the inter-agency mission; behalf of refugees, returnees and displaced per- 2. Commends the measures that the Government of sons. The 90 States participating in the Confer- Malawi is taking to provide material and humanitarian ence agreed to undertake activities in the areas of assistance to refugees and displaced persons, in spite of emergency preparedness, needs assessment and the serious economic situation it faces, and stresses the delivery of assistance, recovery and development, need for additional resources to lessen the impact of the and resource mobilization. In the context of emer- presence of refugees and displaced persons on the coun- try’s long-term development process; gency preparedness, the Conference called on the 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General, United Nations system, oAU, intergovernmental the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, organizations and NGOS to implement training donor countries and intergovernmental and non- programmes for relief officials in asylum countries governmental organizations for their efforts to assist the in order to enable better use of resources. On the refugees and displaced persons in Malawi; subject of internally displaced persons, the Con- 4. Expresses grave concern at the serious and far-reaching ference requested the Secretary-General to con- consequences of the massive presence of refugees and duct studies and consultations aimed at ensuring displaced persons in the country and its implications for the timely implementation and co-ordination of the long-term socio-economic development of the whole country; relief programmes, and called on the international 5. Appeals to Member States, the appropriate organs, community to co-operate in ensuring the safe organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, transport of relief and emergency goods. intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations The Conference recommended voluntary and the international financial institutions to continue repatriation of refugees wherever possible, while providing the Government of Malawi with the neces- recognizing that local integration or resettlement sary resources for the implementation of development in a third country was sometimes a necessary al- assistance projects in regions affected by the presence ternative, especially in the case of South African of refugees and displaced persons, as well as the devel- and Namibian refugees. The Conference empha- opment programmes recommended by the inter-agency mission; sized the need for all members of the international 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his ef- community to share the refugee burden equally, forts to mobilize the necessary financial and material and accordingly urged African States to admit assistance for the full implementation of ongoing projects refugees from southern Africa not only into their in the areas affected by the presence of refugees and dis- countries, but also into their national educational 666 Economic and social questions

and employment systems, enabling them to have Noting the absence of an operational mechanism within access, where feasible, to financial and land the United Nations system dealing specifically with the resources. As part of the follow-up and evaluation problems of assistance to internally displaced persons, process, the Secretary-General was called on to Noting with indignation that South Africa’s policy of apart- provide for the regular appraisal of the Declara- heid, its illegal occupation of Namibia, and its direct and indirect acts of aggression, intimidation and destabili- tion and Plan of Action, in co-operation with zation through armed terrorists continue to be the main UNHCR, the World Food programme (WFP), the causes of refugee flows and increasing displacement of United Nations Children’s Fund, UNDP, the Food persons in southern Africa, and Agriculture Organization of the United Na- Convinced that there is an urgent need for the interna- tions, the World Health Organization and NGOs. tional community to extend maximum and concerted assistance to southern African countries sheltering refu- gees, returnees and displaced persons and also to high- GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION light the plight of these persons, On 8 December, on the recommendation of the 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Third Committee, the Assembly adopted resolu- Secretary-General on the International Conference on tion 43/116 without vote. the Plight of Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Per- sons in Southern Africa; International Conference on the Plight 2. Endorses the Oslo Declaration and Plan of Action of Refugees, Returnees and on the Plight of Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Per- Displaced Persons in Southern Africa sons in Southern Africa adopted by the Conference; The General Assembly, 3. Calls upon the international community to provide Recalling its resolution 42/106 of 7 December 1987 on increased assistance to the countries of southern Africa the convening of an International Conference on the to enable them to strengthen their capacity to provide Plight of Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in the necessary facilities and services for the care and well- Southern Africa, being of the refugees, returnees and displaced persons Gravely concerned about the constant deterioration of the in their countries; situation in southern Africa arising from the domina- 4. Reiterates its appreciation to the Secretary-General for tion and oppression of the peoples of South Africa and his efforts, on behalf of the international community, Namibia by the minority racist régime of South Africa, to organize and mobilize special programmes of eco- Having considered the report of the Secretary-General nomic assistance for the front-line and other neighbour- on the International Conference on the Plight of Refu- ing States to help them to withstand the effects of the gees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in Southern acts of aggression and destabilization committed by the Africa. held at Oslo from 22 to 24 August 1988, and apartheid regime of South Africa; the Oslo Declaration and Plan of Action on the Plight 5. Requests the Secretary-General, the United Nations of Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in South- High Commissioner for Refugees and the Administra- ern Africa adopted by the Conference and contained tor of the United Nations Development Programme to in the annex to that report, implement those specific tasks and responsibilities as- Taking note with appreciation of the active participation signed to them in the Oslo Declaration and Plan of of His Excellency General Moussa Traoré, President of Action; the Republic of Mali and current Chairman of the As- 6. Requests the Secretary-General to undertake stud- sembly of Heads of State and Government of the Or- ies and consultations in order to consider the need for ganization of African Unity, His Excellency Mr. Robert the establishment, within the United Nations system, Mugabe. Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe of a mechanism or arrangement to ensure the implemen- and Chairman of the Movement of Non-Aligned Coun- tation and overall co-ordination of relief programmes tries, and Her Excellency Mrs. Gro Harlem Brundtland, to internally displaced persons; Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway, at the Con- 7. Urges all Member States, organizations of the ference, United Nations system and governmental and non- Aware of the valuable contribution made by the governmental organizations to undertake the measures Governments of Norway and the other Nordic countries required of them under the Oslo Declaration and Plan to the successful convening of the Conference, of Action; Recognizing the importance of the financial and tech- 8. Express its gratitude to the Government of Norway nical assistance provided by the Secretary-General of for acting as host to the Conference, and to all the Nor- the United Nations, the United Nations High Commis- dic countries for their generous assistance towards the sioner for Refugees and the Administrator of the United convening of the Conference; Nations Development Programme to the Secretary- 9. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General of General of the Organization of African Unity in the the United Nations. the United Nations High Commis- preparation and organization of the Conference, sioner for Refugees ‘and the Administrator of the United Noting with satisfaction the successful outcome of the Nations Development Programme for the valuable as- Conference, sistance that they provided to the Secretary-General of Conscious of its responsibility to provide economic, ma- the Organization of African Unity in the organization terial and humanitarian assistance to independent States of the Conference; in southern Africa in order to assist them in coping with 10. Commends the Organization of African Unity for the situation resulting from the acts of aggression and having convened the Conference and for focusing the destabilization committed by the apartheid regime of attention of the international community on the grave South Africa, humanitarian problems of the southern African region; Refugees and displaced persons 667

11. Decides to consider this question at its forty-fourth Noting with concern that the discriminatory and repres- session on the basis of a report to be submitted by the sive policies that continue to be applied in South Africa Secretary-General. and Namibia cause a continued and increasing influx of student refugees into Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland General Assembly resolution 43/116 and Zambia, 8 December 1988 Meeting 75 Adopted without vote Conscious of the burden placed on the limited finan- Approved by Third Committee (A/43/874) without vote, 23 November (meet- cial, material and administrative resources of the host ing 51); draft by Zaire, for African Group (A/C.3/43/L.58); agenda item 102. countries by the increasing number of student refugees, Meeting numbers. GA 43rd session: 3rd Committee 44,45,47,48,51: plenary 75. Appreciating the efforts of the host countries to deal with their student refugee populations, with the assistance Student refugees in southern Africa of the international community, (10) 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the In response to a 1987 Assembly resolution, Secretary-General; the Secretary-General reported on assistance to 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Governments of Bo- student refugees in southern Africa from 1 July tswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia for granting (11) 1987 to 30 June 1988. Those refugees were asylum and making educational and other facilities avail- South Africans and Namibians who had been able to the student refugees, in spite of the pressure that granted asylum in Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland the continuing influx of those refugees exerts on facili- and Zambia. There had been no massive exodus ties in their countries; of refugees from either South Africa or Namibia 3. Also expresses its appreciation to the Governments of during the period under review, but it was feared Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia for the co- operation that they have extended to the United Na- that the ongoing school boycott in Namibia, in tions High Commissioner for Refugees on matters con- protest of South Africa’s policy of stationing troops cerning the welfare of the refugees; close to schools, would intensify and ultimately 4 Notes with appreciation the financial and material lead to a substantial increase in the number of Na- support provided for the student refugees by Member mibian student refugees. In addition, lack of secu- States, the Office of the United Nations High Commis- rity in countries bordering South Africa necessi- sioner for Refugees, other bodies of the United Nations tated the evacuation of most newly arriving system and intergovernmental and non-governmental refugees, mostly young males, into other countries organizations; in the southern and eastern African regions. 5. Requests the High Commissioner, in co-operation with the Secretary-General, to continue to organize and In Botswana, the number of refugees remained implement an effective programme of educational and stable at about 1,000 South Africans and 200 other appropriate assistance for student refugees from Namibians. Of these, 180 South Africans and 120 South Africa and Namibia who have been granted asy- Namibians continued to benefit from educational lum in Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia; facilities offered at the Dukwe Settlement. 6. Urges all Member States and intergovernmental Swaziland was host to 6,500 South Africans, 220 and non-governmental organizations to continue con- of whom were receiving UNHCR educational as- tributing generously to the assistance programme for sistance. Educational assistance was also provided student refugees, through financial support of the regular programmes of the High Commissioner and of the to South African and/or Namibian students in projects and programmes, including unfunded projects, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, which were submitted to the Second International Con- Zambia and Zimbabwe. ference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa, held at Geneva from 9 to 11 July 1984; GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION 7. Also urges all Member States and all intergovern- mental and non-governmental organizations to assist the On 8 December, on the recommendation of the countries of asylum materially and otherwise to enable Third Committee, the Assembly adopted resolu- them to continue to discharge their humanitarian obli- tion 43/149 without vote. gations towards refugees; 8. Appeals to the Office of the United Nations High Assistance to student refugees in southern Africa Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Devel- The General Assembly, opment Programme and all other competent United Na- Recalling its resolution 42/138 of 7 December 1987, in tions bodies, as well as other international and non- which it, inter alia, requested the United Nations High governmental organizations, to continue providing hu- Commissioner for Refugees, in co-operation with the manitarian and development assistance so as to facili- Secretary-General, to continue to organize and imple- tate and expedite the settlement of student refugees from ment an effective programme of educational and other South Africa and Namibia who have been granted asy- appropriate assistance for student refugees from South lum in Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia; Africa and Namibia who had been granted asylum in 9. Calls upon agencies and programmes of the United Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia, Nations system to continue co-operating with the Having considered the report of the Secretary-General, Secretary-General and the High Commissioner in the Noting with appreciation that some of the projects recom- implementation of humanitarian programmes of as- mended in the report on assistance to student refugees sistance for the student refugees in southern Africa; in southern Africa continue to be successfully im- 10. Requests the High Commissioner, in co-operation plemented, with the Secretary-General, to continue to keep the mat- 668 Economic and social questions

ter under review, to apprise the Economic and Social 2. Reiterates its appeal to all States and intergovernmen- Council, at its second regular session of 1989, of the cur- tal and non-governmental organizations to support, by rent status of the programmes and to report to the generous contributions, the efforts being made by the General Assembly at its forty-fourth session on the im- Government of Chad to assist and resettle the volun- plementation of the present resolution. tary returnees and displaced persons; General Assembly resolution 43/149 3. Takes note with satisfaction of the action undertaken by the various organizations of the United Nations sys- 8 December 1988 Meeting 75 Adopted without vote tem and the specialized agencies with a view to mobiliz- Approved by Third Committee (A/43/868) without vote, 29 November (meet- ing emergency humanitarian assistance to the volun- ing 56); 47- nation draft (A/C.3/43/L.72); agenda item 12. Sponsors: Algeria, Angola, Barbados, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, tary returnees and displaced persons in Chad; Central African Republic, China, Côte d’lvoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic 4. Again requests the United Nations High Commis- Kampuchea, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea, Haiti, India, Indonesia, sioner for Refugees and the United Nations Disaster Re- Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Philippines, lief Co-ordinator to mobilize emergency humanitarian Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Trinidad and assistance to the voluntary returnees and displaced per- Tobago, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, sons in Chad; Zimbabwe. 5. Calls upon: Meeting numbers. GA 43rd session: 3rd Committee 49-56: plenary 75. (a) The Secretary-General to continue his efforts to mobilize special humanitarian assistance for the reset- Refugees in other African countries tlement of displaced persons in the northern region of Chad Chad; In response to a 1987 Assembly resolution,(12) (6) The international community to support the ef- the Secretary-General in September 1988 submit- forts made by the Government of Chad to implement ted a report on emergency assistance to voluntary the programmes for repatriating and resettling the (13) voluntary returnees and displaced persons in Chad; returnees and displaced persons in Chad. 6. Requests the Secretary-General, in co-operation Spontaneous and organized return of Chadians with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refu- from neighbouring countries, especially Cameroon gees and the United Nations Disaster Relief Co- and Nigeria, continued during 1988. UNHCR con- ordinator, to report to the General Assembly at its forty- tinued to provide tools and seeds to returnees, in- fourth session on the implementation of the present reso- stall water supplies and, in collaboration with lution. WFP, distribute food. General Assembly resolution 43/143 8 December 1998 Meeting 75 Adopted without vote GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION Approved by Third Committee (A/43/868) without vote, 29 November (meet- ing 56); 37- nation draft (A/C.3/43/L.66); agenda item 12. On 8 December, on the recommendation of the Sponsors: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Third Committee, the Assembly adopted resolu- African African, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa tion 43/143 without vote. Rica, Côte d’lvoire, Democratic Kampuchea, Djibouti, Egypt, France, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Japan, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Thailand, Togo, Emergency assistance to voluntary returnees Tunisia, Zaire. and displaced persons in Chad Meeting numbers. GA 43rd session: 3rd Committee 49-56; plenary 75. The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 42/128 of 7 December 1987 on Djibouti emergency assistance to voluntary returnees and dis- In response to a 1987 Assembly resolution,(14) placed persons in Chad, as well as all its previous reso- the Secretary-General in September 1988 submit- lutions on this question, ted a report on humanitarian assistance to refu- (i5) Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on gees in Djibouti. The U NHCR multi-purpose emergency assistance to voluntary returnees and dis- assistance programme for 1988 focused on the im- placed persons in Chad, provement of community and preventive health Deeply concerned the persistence of the harmful effects of the drought, desertification, floods and infestations care, nutrition and educational services. of locusts and grasshoppers, which are compounding the already precarious food and health situation in Chad, GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION Conscious that the large number of voluntary returnees On 8 December, on the recommendation of the and displaced persons resulting from the war and the Third Committee, the Assembly adopted resolu- drought in Chad poses a serious problem of their in- tion 43/142 without vote. tegration into society, Considering that the mass return of returnees to Chad Humanitarian assistance to refugees in Djibouti and of displaced persons in the northern region poses The General Assembly, serious social and economic problems for the Govern- Recalling its resolutions 41/137 of 4 December 1986 and ment of Chad, 42/126 of 7 December 1987 on humanitarian assistance Bearing in mind the many appeals made by the Govern- to refugees in Djibouti, as well as all its previous reso- ment of Chad for international emergency assistance to lutions on this question, the voluntary returnees and displaced persons in Chad, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General 1. Endorses the appeals made by the Government of on humanitarian assistance to refugees in Djibouti, Chad for emergency assistance to the voluntary Deeply concerned about the plight of the refugees and returnees and displaced persons in Chad; the constantly increasing inflow of displaced persons Refugees and displaced persons 669 which has severely affected the inadequate social serv- Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe. ices and the infrastructure of the country, Meeting numbers. GA 43rd session: 3rd Committee 49-56; plenary 75. Aware of the heavy economic and social burden placed on the Government of Djibouti and the consequent un- Ethiopia favourable effects on the development of that country, In response to a 1987 Assembly resolution,(16) given the delicate nature of its resources, the Secretary-General in September 1988 submit- Appreciation the determined and sustained efforts made ted a report on assistance to displaced persons and by the Government of Djibouti to cope with the grow- returnees in Ethiopia.(17) ing needs of the refugees and displaced persons, des- pite its modest economic resources and limited means, Ethiopia reported the largest increase in the Noting with appreciation the steps taken by the Govern- number of refugees in 1988, with the number of ment of Djibouti, in close co-operation with the United Sudanese refugees in the south-western region ris- Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to implement ing from nearly 260,000 to some 350,000, the appropriate and lasting solutions with respect to the refu- majority of whom were women and children. The gees in Djibouti, remote location of the camps and the severe mal- Appreciating the assistance provided by Member States, nutrition of some new arrivals continued to de- the specialized agencies, intergovernmental and non- mand a high level of support. In May, the High governmental organizations and voluntary agencies to Commissioner appealed for $26.7 million in do- the relief and rehabilitation programmes for the refu- gees and displaced persons in Djibouti, nations to assist the Sudanese refugees. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General In addition, more than 300,000 Somalis entered on humanitarian assistance to refugees in Djibouti and south-eastern Ethiopia in 1988, a region devoid of appreciates the efforts of the United Nations High Com- natural resources and difficult to reach. Vital sup- missioner for Refugees to keep their situation under con- plies were airlifted to those refugees as part of a stant review; major relief operation. In July, the High Commis- 2. Welcomes the steps taken by the Government of sioner appealed for international support for a re- Djibouti, in close co-operation with the High Commis- lief programme valued at $11 million, based on a sioner, to implement appropriate and lasting solutions tentative planning case-load of 120,000, but des- with respect to the refugees in Djibouti; pite a rapid increase in the number of Somali refu- 3. Expresses its appreciation to Member States, the spe- gees to some 400,000, only $1.2 million had been cialized agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and voluntary agencies for their assistance contributed in cash by August. to the relief and rehabilitation programmes for the refugees Other assistance in the form of food, agricul- and displaced persons in Djibouti; tural tools, seeds, livestock and home construction 4. Urges the High Commissioner to intensify his ef- materials was provided to Ethiopian refugees re- forts to mobilize, on an emergency basis, the necessary turning home from Djibouti, Somalia and the resources to implement lasting solutions with respect to Sudan. the refugees in Djibouti and the constant inflow of dis- placed persons; GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION 5. Calls upon all Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system, the specialized agencies On 8 December, on the recommendation of the and intergovernmental and non-governmental organi- Third Committee, the Assembly adopted resolu- zations to continue to support the determined and sus- tion 43/144 without vote. tained efforts made by the Government of Djibouti to cope with the urgent needs of the refugees and displaced Assistance to refugees and returnees in Ethiopia persons and to implement lasting solutions as regards The General Assembly, their situation; Recalling all its resolutions, in particular resolution 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the 42/139 of 7 December 1987, as well as all those of the General Assembly at its forty-fourth session, through Economic and Social Council, on assistance to displaced the Economic and Social Council, on the implementa- persons in Ethiopia, tion of the present resolution. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on assistance to displaced persons in Ethiopia, General Assembly resolution 43/142 Having considered the report of the United Nations High 8 December 1988 Meeting 75 Adopted without vote Commissioner for Refugees, Approved by Third Committee (A/43/868) without vote, 29 November (meet- Recognizing the increasing number of refugees and ing 56); 88- nation draft (A/C.3/43/L.85); agenda item 12. voluntary returnees in Ethiopia, Sponsors: Angola, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Dee& concerned about the massive flow of refugees and Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, voluntary returnees into the country and the enormous Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Dominican Repub- burden this has placed on the country’s infrastructure lic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Gambia, and meagre resources, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Lib- Deeply concerned also about the grave consequences this yan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, has entailed for the country’s capability to grapple with Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, the effects of the prolonged drought, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sin- gapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thai- Aware of the heavy burden placed on the Government land, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab of Ethiopia and of the need for adequate assistance to 670 Economic and social questions

refugees, voluntary returnees and victims of natural dis- Settlement Project, approved in May, was to pro- asters, duce a feasibility study and technical plan for the 1. Commends the Office of the United Nations High settlement of refugee families who had been liv- Commissioner for Refugees and intergovernmental or- ing in refugee camps for eight years. The project ganizations and voluntary agencies for their assistance in mitigating the plight of the large number of refugees was intended to serve as a model for other devel- and voluntary returnees in Ethiopia; opment projects for refugees in Somalia. 2. Appeals to Member States and to international or- U NHCR continued its efforts to promote ganizations and voluntary agencies to provide adequate repatriation and self-sufficiency in Somalia, in- material, financial and technical assistance for relief and cluding road rehabilitation and agricultural devel- rehabilitation programmes for the large number of refu- opment. Food assistance, co-ordinated by WFP, gees and voluntary returnees in Ethiopia; was expected to amount to about 42,000 metric 3. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner tons in 1988, at an estimated cost of $53 million. for Refugees to continue his efforts in mobilizing hu- On the basis of a nutritional survey conducted in manitarian assistance for the relief, rehabilitation and 1988, rations were increased and steps were taken resettlement of voluntary returnees and the large num- ber of refugees in Ethiopia; to improve the timing of deliveries. 4. Requests the Secretary-General, in co-operation Prospects for the voluntary repatriation of with the High Commissioner, to apprise the Economic Ethiopian refugees in Somalia improved during and Social Council, at its second regular session of 1989, the year as a result of high-level discussions be- of the implementation of the present resolution and to tween UNHCR and Somalia, in which the parties report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty- agreed on the need to redirect the programme fourth session. from relief assistance towards repatriation. In General Assembly resolution 43/144 Somalia, that included the promotion of area de- 8 December 1988 Meeting 75 Adopted without vote velopment and rehabilitation projects aimed at Approved by Third Committee (A/43/868) without vote, 29 November (meet- creating durable economic assets and helping to ing 56); 67- nation draft (A/C.3/43/L.67); agenda item 12. redress the ecological and other consequences of Sponsors: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Byelorussian SSR, Cameroon, the presence of refugees. Another objective was to China, Congo, côte d’lvoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ger- ensure that refugee services that could contribute man Democratic Republic, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indone- to national development were integrated into na- sia, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lao People’s Democratic Repub- lic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, tional structures. In north-western Somalia, how- Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Po- ever, the UNHCR assistance programme was seri- land, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukrainian SSR, ously disrupted by the outbreak of conflict in May USSR, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Meeting numbers. GA 43rd session: 3rd Committee 49-56; plenary 75. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION On the recommendation of the Third Commit- Rwanda tee, the Assembly, on 8 December, adopted reso- In August, some 55,000 refugees from north- lution 43/147 without vote. ern Burundi fled to Rwanda, requiring immedi- ate emergency assistance. A commission, compris- Assistance to refugees in Somalia ing representatives from UNHCR, Burundi, The General Assembly, Rwanda and Zaire, with OAU representatives as Recalling its resolutions 35/180 of 15 December 1980, observers, was established to promote conditions 36/153 of 16 December 1981, 37/174 of 17 December conducive to the early voluntary return of those 1982, 38/88 of 16 December 1983, 39/104 of 14 Novem- ber 1984, 40/132 of 13 December 1985, 41/138 of 4 De- refugees. Repatriation began spontaneously in Oc- cember 1986 and 42/127 of 7 December 1987 on the tober and continued through UNHCR-organized question of assistance to refugees in Somalia, convoys. The great majority of refugees had Having considered the report of the Secretary-General returned within two months. on assistance to refugees in Somalia, Deeply concerned about the heavy burden that has been Somalia placed on the fragile economy of Somalia by the con- In response to a 1987 Assembly resolution,(18) tinuing presence of large numbers of refugees, the Secretary-General in August 1988 submitted Concerned about the need to ensure continuing and ade- a report on assistance to refugees in Somalia.(19) quate supplies of food in refugee camps in Somalia, All of them were Ethiopian, and many were Conscious of the pressure that the refugee presence con- women and children. The second phase of a pro- tinues to impose on the public services, in particular edu- cation, health, transport and communications, and water ject to re-enumerate the refugees, consisting of a supplies, socio-demographic survey, was begun in 1988. Noting with concern the deleterious effect of the refugee Concrete steps were taken to promote refugee- presence on the environment, which has resulted in related development projects and to identify widespread deforestation, soil erosion and the threat of labour-intensive schemes benefiting both refugees destruction to an already fragile ecological balance, and the local population. The Qorioley Refugee 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; Refugees and displaced persons 671

2. Commends the measures that the Government of 12. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with Somalia is taking to provide material and humanitarian the High Commissioner and United Nations Develop- assistance to refugees, in spite of its own limited resources ment Programme, to submit to the General Assembly and fragile economy; at its forty-fourth session a report on the progress achieved 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General, in the implementation of the present resolution. the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, donor countries and intergovernmental and non- General Assembly resolution 43/147 governmental organizations for their efforts to assist the 8 December 1988 Meeting 75 Adopted without vote refugees in Somalia; Approved by Third Committee (A/43/868) without vote, 29 November (meet- 4. Calls upon the High Commissioner to ensure, as ing 56); 65- nation draft (A/C.3/43/L.70/Rev.1); agenda item 12. Sponsors: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, appropriate, that the care, maintenance and rehabilita- Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chine, Colombia, tion needs of the refugees are adequately covered; Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d’lvoire, Cyprus, Democratic Kampuchea, 5. Appeals to Member States, international organi- Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, zations and voluntary agencies to render maximum and Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritania, timely material, financial and technical assistance to enable Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Omen, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, the Government of Somalia to implement the projects Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and activities identified in the report of the 1987 inter- Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe. agency mission annexed to the report submitted by the Meeting numbers. GA 43rd session: 3rd Committee 49-58; plenary 75. Secretary-General to the General Assembly at its forty- second session as the basis for a comprehensive programme Sudan of action combining both refugee-related humanitarian In response to a 1987 Assembly resolution,(20) and developmental needs; 6. Calls upon the United Nations Development Pro- the Secretary-General in August 1988 submitted a report on the situation of refugees in the gramme to assume the leading role, as required by the (21) Second International Conference on Assistance to Refugees Sudan. Government sources had indicated that in Africa, in the conceptualization, implementation and there were approximately 2 million displaced per- monitoring of refugee-related projects, and to be involved sons and 1 million refugees in that country. The in the mobilization of the financial and technical means Under-Secretary-General for Special Political required, in close co-operation with the High Commis- Questions, Regional Co-operation, Decolonization sioner and the World Bank, and Trusteeship, after discussions with Sudanese 7. Requests the pertinent organizations of the United authorities, reinstituted the United Nations Emer- Nations system, namely the Food and Agriculture Or- ganization of the United Nations, the International Labour gency Operations Group, composed of the local Organisation, the World Health Organization, the United representatives of the key United Nations agen- Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization cies, in order to ensure an effective and concerted and the United Nations Children’s Fund, as well as the response to the critical humanitarian situation United Nations Environment Programme and the World resulting from drought, civil strife and the pres- Food Programme, to prepare, in consultation with the ence of refugees. The Group was to co-ordinate Government of Somalia, detailed project documentation emergency and rehabilitation assistance requested for the implementation of those projects and activities by the Government for refugees and displaced per- identified in the report of the Secretary-General as pri- sons as well as for the stricken population in ority endeavours for a comprehensive programme of drought-affected areas. The Secretary-General in action; 8. Calls upon the United Nations Development Pro- March appealed for assistance in implementing gramme, the United Nations Environment Programme, ongoing projects in areas affected by refugees. the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office and the Food U NHCR continued to provide assistance to and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to nearly half of the more than 800,000 refugees es- continue and expand their activities in Somalia, in co- timated to be in the Sudan, the majority of whom operation with the Government of Somalia, to protect were Ethiopian. More than 300,000 Ethiopians and rehabilitate its damaged environment; were receiving UNHCR assistance; a substantially 9. Recognizes the important role that non-governmental higher number had spontaneously settled in towns organizations are playing with regard to programmes for the care, maintenance and rehabilitation of refugees, par- and rural areas and were therefore unassisted. ticularly in activities related to small-scale development Some 30,000 Ethiopian refugees, the majority projects, and in the fields of health and agriculture; fleeing armed conflict, arrived in eastern Sudan 10. Calls upon the international community to sup- in the second half of 1988. Most were accommo- port the activities of non-governmental organizations in dated with relative ease at existing reception Somalia in the planning and implementation of refugee centres. As part of the overall effort to link refu- projects and refugee-related development activities; gee assistance to national development, U NHCR, 11. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner in co-operation with the World Bank, prepared an for Refugees and the Administrator of the United Na- tions Development Programme to apprise the Economic agricultural project in southern Kassala province and Social Council at its second regular session of 1989 to benefit small farmers, including refugees. of the progress made in their respective fields of respon- More than 80,000 Ugandan refugees in the sibility with regard to those provisions of the present reso- Sudan returned to their country of origin in the lution which concern them; largest such movement anywhere in the world. 672 Economic and social questions

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION ticular of the new trends identified in the area of refu- gee aid and development; On 8 December, on the recommendation of the 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General, Third Committee, the Assembly adopted resolu- the High Commissioner, donor countries and inter- tion 43/141 without vote. governmental and non-governmental organizations for Situation of refugees in the Sudan their efforts to assist the refugees in the Sudan; The General Assembly, 4. Expresses grave concert at the serious and far-reaching consequences of the presence of massive numbers of Recalling its resolution 42/129 of 7 December 1987 and refugees in the country on the security and stability of its other previous resolutions on the situation of refu- the country and the overall negative impact on its basic gees in the Sudan, infrastructure, which arrests the socio-economic devel- Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on opment of the whole country; the implementation of resolution 42/129 and the action 5. Also expresses grave concern at the shrinking resources taken by the concerned organizations, and the report of available for refugee programmes in the Sudan and the the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, serious consequences of this situation for the country’s Expressing its appreciation for the efforts made by the ability to continue to act as host and provide assistance Government of the Sudan for the reception of the refu- to refugees; gees and the provision of protection, shelter, food, health, 6. Appeals to Member States, the appropriate organs, education and other humanitarian services to the ever organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, increasing number of refugees who have been crossing intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations the borders into the Sudan since the early 1960s, and the international financial institutions to provide Recognizing the heavy burden shouldered by the peo- the Government of the Sudan with the necessary re- ple and the Government of the Sudan and the sacrifices sources for the implementation of development as- they are making in acting as host to more than one mil- sistance projects in regions affected by the presence of lion refugees, who constitute approximately 7.5 per cent refugees; of the total population of the country, 7. Requests the Secretary-General to mobilize the Concerned that the great majority of the refugees have necessary financial and material assistance for the full spontaneously settled in various urban and rural com- implementation of ongoing projects in the areas affected munities throughout the country and are thus sharing by the presence of refugees; the already meagre resources and services allocated to 8. Requests the High Commissioner to continue co- the indigenous population, ordination with the appropriate specialized agencies in Expressing grave concern at the devastating and far- order to consolidate and ensure the continuation of es- reaching effects of the successive calamities, ranging sential services to the refugees in their settlements; from the 1984 drought to the heavy rains and floods and 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the the locust infestations, that have afflicted the country, General Assembly at its forty-fourth session, through thus exacerbating the already deteriorating situation the Economic and Social Council, on the implementa- resulting from the presence of this great number of tion of the present resolution. refugees, Gravely concerned also that the Government of the Sudan, General Assembly resolution 43/141 besides dealing with the difficult prevailing economic 8 December 1988 Meeting 75 Adopted without vote and social problems, has the additional task of taking Approved by Third Committee (A/43/868) without vote, 29 November (meet- care of more than 1.5 million nationals displaced as a ing 56); 59- nation draft (A/C.3/43/L.64); agenda item 12. Sponsors: Algeria, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Botswana, Cameroon, result of the 1984 drought, the civil strife in the south- Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Democratic Kampuchea, ern part of the country and the rains and floods of Au- Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Egypt, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Indonesia, gust 1988, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Recognizing the serious task undertaken by the Govern- Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Sene- ment of the Sudan to initiate a wide-ranging rehabili- gal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab tation programme to redress the impact and damages Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, incurred by the natural disasters, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Meeting numbers. GA 43rd session: 3rd Committee 49-56; plenary 75. Considering those serious circumstances, which render the Government of the Sudan less prepared than ever Asia and Oceania to meet its obligations to its own people, and the more serious consequences, which affect the capacity of the At the request of Sri Lanka, UNHCR in 1988 Government of the Sudan to receive and grant asylum launched a programme to promote the return of to additional numbers of refugees, Sri Lankan Tamils from India. Transportation for Expressing its appreciation for the assistance rendered by the returnees was provided by India, and recep- Member States and intergovernmental and non- tion, registration and initial assistance were governmental organizations in support of the refugee provided by Sri Lanka and U NHCR. Reintegration programme in the Sudan, assistance was also planned for Sri Lankan Tamils 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General returning voluntarily from countries other than on the situation of refugees in the Sudan and expresses India. By year’s end, some $8.3 million had been its appreciation for the appeal made by the Secretary- General to Member States and the appropriate organs, spent towards implementation of the programme. organizations and bodies of the United Nations; In India, there were more than 6,000 registered 2. Takes note also of the report submitted by the United refugees at year’s end, mainly from Afghanistan Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and in par- and Iran. U NHCR assistance included primary Refugees and displaced persons 673

and secondary education for children, as well as an International Conference on Indo-Chinese Refugees higher education and vocational training for at the ministerial level, in early 1989, to be preceded adults. A total of 1,002 refugees in India were reset- by a preparatory conference at the senior official level, tled in third countries during 1988, and 62 Af- Noting the expressions of support given by all States concerned, including those of the South-East Asian re- ghans and 30 Iranians voluntarily repatriated. gion, to the convening of the Conference, During the year, UNHCR expenditure in the re- Taking note of the de&ion by the Executive Commit- gion stood at $64.3 million under General Pro- tee of the Programme of the United Nations High Com- grammes and $18.2 million under Special Pro- missioner for Refugees at its thirty-ninth session to en- grammes. dorse the proposal for the convening of the Conference, Bearing in mind the need for adequate preparation by Indo-China the parties concerned to ensure the success of the Con- ference, At the end of 1988, some 156,000 Indo-Chinese 1. Welcomes the call by the Association of South-East asylum-seekers were in UNHCR-assisted camps in Asian Nations for the convening of an International Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Conference on Indo-Chinese Refugees and expresses the Singapore and Thailand, with Thailand being host strong desire that the Conference take place at the to the majority of the case-load. Despite efforts to ministerial level at the earliest possible date during the promote voluntary repatriation, resettlement re- first half of 1989; mained the principal durable solution. The in- 2.. Also welcomes the decision by the Executive Com- crease in arrivals, particularly “boat people”, was mittee of the Programme of the United Nations High not offset by the resettlement of some 50,000 Indo- Commissioner for Refugees on the convening of the Conference; Chinese in third countries, and the number of reg- 3.. Requests the Secretary-General, in close co- istered asylum-seekers in South-East Asian camps, operation with the States members of the Association particularly in Hong Kong and Malaysia, rose by of South-East Asian Nations and other States concerned, 11.5 per cent compared to 1987. Progress was made to convene the Conference and to extend all possible in Viet Nam, however, with more than 21,000 per- assistance to the parties concerned for the organization sons leaving through the reactivated Orderly of the Conference; Departure Programme. 4. Appeals to all States, the specialized agencies and In July, the Foreign Ministers of the Associa- regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental or- ganizations to provide all the necessary support and tion of South-East Asian Nations called for an in- resources needed by the High Commissioner for the ternational conference on Indo-Chinese refugees preparation and the holding of the Conference; to be held in 1989.(22) The UNHCR Executive 5. Requests the Secretary-General to apprise the Eco- Committee welcomed the proposal in October nomic and Social Council at its second regular session (23) 1988. of 1989 and to report to the General Assembly at its forty-fourth session on the implementation of the pres- GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION ent resolution. On 8 December, on the recommendation of the General Assembly resolution 43/119 Third Committee, the Assembly adopted resolu- 8 December 1988 Meeting 75 Adopted without vote tion 43/119 without vote. Approved by Third Committee (A/43/874) without vote, 23 November (meet- ing 51); 25-nation draft (A/C.3/43/L.61): agenda item 102. International Conference on Indo-Chinese Refugees Sponsors: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chad, China, Denmark, Djibouti, Finland, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Japan, Malay- The General Assembly, sia, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Singapore, Somalia, Sudan, Deeply concerned about the continuing humanitarian and Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United States, Viet Nam. other problems posed by the presence in the South-East Meeting numbers. GA 43rd session: 3rd Committee 44, 45, 47, 48, 50, 51; plenary 75. Asian region of large numbers of refugees, displaced per- sons and those seeking refuge, Europe and North America Recognizing that the problem of refugees, displaced per- sons and those seeking refuge is of international concern. The number of new asylum-seekers in Europe Convinced that there is an-urgent need for the interna- increased to 240,000 during 1988, compared to tional community to find a comprehensive and dura- 188,000 in 1987. Reversing the trend of previous ble solution to the problem which is acceptable to all years, most of the new asylum-seekers were of Eu- parties concerned, ropean origin. In addition, Hungary took in some Appreciating the continuing efforts of the South-East 13,000 Romanian asylum-seekers, on whose be- Asian countries aimed at solving this problem, as well half it sought UNHCR assistance. Another 50,000 as the endeavours of the international community to pro- Iraqi nationals were admitted to Turkey and vide humanitarian assistance to refugees, displaced per- sons and those seeking refuge in South-East Asia; granted temporary sanctuary as well as assistance Noting the call in the Joint Statement on Indo-Chinese and protection. UNHCR maintained close contact Refugees, issued at Bangkok on 4 July 1988 by the with Governments and NGOs to ensure preserva- Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of tion of the humanitarian tradition and the princi- (24) the Association of South-East Asian Nations at their ples of the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Pro- twenty-first Ministerial Meeting, for the convening of toco1(25) relating to the Status of Refugees. 674 Economic and social questions

An agreement concluded in August between cision to hold an international conference on the France, Suriname and UNHCR led to the creation subject. of a tripartite commission to supervise the volun-

tary repatriation of some 8,000 Surinamese na- GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION tionals in the French overseas department of On 8 December, on the recommendation of the Guiana. Third Committee, the Assembly adopted resolu- In North America, Canada and the United tion 43/118 without vote. States saw an expansion in their role as countries of first asylum during 1988. In the United States, International Conference on Central there was a sharp increase in the number of Cen- American Refugees tral American refugees, and accelerated proce- The General Assembly, dures were introduced to determine the eligibility Recalling its resolutions 42/1 of 7 October 1987 con- of their asylum requests. cerning the peace initiatives undertaken in connection During the year, UNHCR’s operational expen- with the agreement on “Procedures for the establish- diture in Europe and North America amounted ment of a firm and lasting peace in Central America”, signed by five Central American Presidents at to $19.million under General Programmes and $1.3 Guatemala City on 7 August 1987 at the Esquipulas II million under Special Programmes. summit meeting, 42/110 of 7 December 1987 on as- sistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons of Latin America and the Caribbean Central America, 42/204 of 11 December 1987 on spe- cial economic assistance to Central America and 42/231 UNHCR had assisted about 124,000 refugees in of 12 May 1988 on the Special Plan of Economic Co- Central America and Mexico by the end of 1988. operation for Central America, The number of returnees increased considerably Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General, during the year, especially from Honduras, from Also taking note of the report of the United Nations High where 2,476 Salvadorians and 7,965 Miskito and Commissioner for Refugees, Sumo Nicaraguans repatriated. More than 37,000 Gravely concerned about the present situation in the Cen- refugees remained in Honduras at year’s end, tral American region, the flows of refugees to neighbour- however, including Nicaraguans, Salvadorians and ing countries and countries outside the region, and the Guatemalans. In addition, 1,921 Guatemalans impact of those flows of refugees on the social and eco- returned from Mexico, while 41,273 remained. nomic development of the area, Smaller repatriation movements occurred from the Conscious of the need to address the problem of Cen- Dominican Republic (to Haiti) and Costa Rica (to tral American refugees who have found asylum in some El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua), bring- Central American countries, including Belize and Mex- ing the total number of returnees in the region to ico, and desirous of contributing to the search for last- ing solutions of benefit to the countries and communi- 13,684. In southern Latin America, the estimated ties of asylum and origin, refugee population stood at 23,900, of whom 7,370 Taking into account that, as stated in point 8 of the agree- received UNHCR assistance. Though new Chilean ment concluded at the Esquipulas II summit meeting, asylum-seekers were registered, approximately 900 the Central American countries have undertaken, as a refugees, mostly Chileans, were assisted in matter of urgency, to address the problem of refugees, repatriation. including their repatriation and relocation through During 1988, UNHCR expenditure in the region bilateral and multilateral processes, totalled $32.8 million under General Programmes Welcoming the establishment of the Preparatory Com- and $6.5 million under Special Programmes. mittee for the International Conference on Central (23) American Refugees, consisting of Costa Rica, El Sal- UNHCR In October, the Executive Commit- vador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua, tee welcomed the September decision of the and emphasizing the importance of the success of their Governments of Costa Rica, El Salvador, work, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua to Welcoming with satisfaction the San Salvador communique hold an international conference on Central on the Central American refugees, signed on 9 Septem- (26) American refugees in 1989. The Secretary- ber 1988, whereby it was decided to convene an Inter- General in September had reported(27) that national Conference on Central American Refugees, to UNHCR was providing support to the Govern- be held at Guatemala City in May 1989, ments of the region to prepare national profiles Emphasizing that the general objective of the Confer- and programmes of solutions in preparation for ence is to examine the needs of Central American refu- the conference. gees and concrete proposals for practical solutions to their problems, as a contribution to peace in the region, In October,(28) the Secretary-General reported Reiterating the paramount importance of humanitarian on threats to international peace and security and and apolitical considerations, both in dealing with and peace initiatives in Central America, stating that in solving the problem of refugees, returnees and dis- he was gratified by the concrete measures taken placed persons, and the need to ensure that this ap- to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of refugees proach is strictly observed by the countries of origin and in the region; he emphasized particularly the de- of asylum and other interested participants, Refugees and displaced persons 675

Expressing its appreciation for the work done by the Of- 7. Requests the Secretary-General to invite all States fice of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refu- to participate in the Conference and to adopt the means gees in support of the preparation for the Conference, necessary for ensuring its success; and for its co-operation with the Preparatory Com- 8. Invites the Secretary-General to establish the neces- mittee, sary co-ordination between the Conference and the im- Recognizing the priority given in the Special Plan of plementation of the section of the Special Plan of Eco- Economic Co-operation for Central America to the sec- nomic Co-operation for Central America relating to tion of the emergency programme which is designed to refugees, displaced persons and repatriated persons; promote activities for solving the problem of refugees, 9. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner displaced persons and repatriated persons, for Refugees to organize the Conference, in close co- Recognizing that the task of seeking solutions goes fur- operation with the United Nations Development Pro- ther than emergency activities and is linked with aspects gramme and with the organs, specialized agencies and concerning the development of the region and assistance other organizations of the United Nations system, in for the displaced populations in the countries of origin co-ordination with the Preparatory Committee, bear- and of asylum that are directly affected by the massive ing in mind the third point of the San Salvador com- presence of refugees, munique on the Central American refugees; 10. Requests the Secretary-General, in co-operation Emphasizing that, among the possible solutions, volun- with the High Commissioner, to report to the Economic tary repatriation is the most appropriate solution for and Social Council at its second regular session of 1989 solving the problems created by the massive presence of refugees in the countries and communities of asylum, and to the General Assembly at its forty-fourth session on the implementation of the present resolution. Recognizing that the tripartite commissions, composed of representatives of the country of asylum, the coun- General Assembly resolution 43/118 try of origin and the Office of the High Commissioner, 8 December 1988 Meeting 75 Adopted without vote constitute an ongoing mechanism for solving the prob- Approved by Third Committee (A/43/874) without vote, 23 November (meet- lem of refugees and that they require support in order ing 51); 31-nation draft (A/C.3/43/L.60), orally revised; agenda item 102. to continue the current voluntary repatriation pro- Sponsors: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, Guatemala, Haiti, Hon- grammes in conditions of personal and material security, duras, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nor- 1. Welcomes the decision adopted by the countries way, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United States, Uru- members of the Preparatory Committee for the Inter- guay, Venezuela. Meeting numbers. GA 43rd session: 3rd Committee 44. 45. 47. 48. 50, 51; national Conference on Central American Refugees to plenary 75. convene the Conference at Guatemala City in May 1989; 2. Supports the undertaking made by the countries South-West Asia, represented in the Preparatory Committee to continue North Africa and the Middle East to deal with the problems relating to the refugees and their voluntary repatriation, as well as with the prepara- During 1988, UNHCR took steps to prepare for tory work for the Conference and the Conference itself, the voluntary repatriation of Afghans, including on a purely humanitarian and apolitical basis; signing agreements with Afghanistan and Pakistan 3. Welcomes the decisions in support of the Confer- and holding discussions with Iran and represen- ence adopted by the General Assembly of the Organi- tatives of the Afghan refugees to define the condi- zation of American States at its eighteenth session and tions of voluntary repatriation and to outline the by the Executive Committee of the Programme of the material assistance needed. UNHCR’S role in- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at its cluded protecting the refugees and spontaneous thirty-ninth session; returnees, building the capacity to respond to 4. Urges that, in the context of the Conference, con- large-scale repatriation movements and providing sideration should be given to the problems of displaced direct support to the returnees in Afghanistan. A persons and to the effects of the massive presence of refu- total of $12 million was obligated for those activi- gees in countries of asylum, as well as to those solutions which the affected countries deem applicable; ties during 1988. 5. Exhorts all Member States, organs, specialized In Pakistan, preparations for the repatriation of agencies and other organizations of the United Nations more than 3 million Afghan refugees were acceler- system, as well as the regional and subregional, inter- ated during the second half of the year, especially governmental and non-governmental organizations en- in the areas of health and training, even as as- gaged in the humanitarian task of helping Central sistance continued to be delivered to newly arriv- American refugees, to participate in the Conference and ing refugees from the border areas of Afghanistan to provide all the resources, co-operation and support where military conflict had intensified. necessary for preparing and holding it, and for follow- In Iran, UNHCR contributed $10.6 million to- ing up the results; wards the care and maintenance of Afghan refu- 6. Appeals to the international community to increase gees, in addition to Iran’s own considerable con- its assistance to the countries of asylum and of origin of Central American refugees in order to strengthen tribution. In addition, at the request of Iran, their capacity to provide the means and services neces- UNHCR provided $8.3 million in assistance to sary for the solution of the problem of refugees, returnees some 70,000 Kurdish refugees from Iraq, primar- and displaced persons, in accordance with national de- ily for medical supplies, shelter and other basic velopment programmes; necessities. 676 Economic and social questions

A large number of Somalis entered the Persian repatriation. Meanwhile, it continued to assist vul- Gulf region during the year, and the UNHCR nerable Sahraoui groups in Algeria. regional office at Beirut, Lebanon, continued to provide assistance to some 5,900 stateless refu- REFERENCES (1)A/44/12.. (2)YUN 1987, p. 885, GA res. 42/107,7 Dec. 1987. UNHCR (3) (4) (5) gees. Other groups receiving assistance A/43/533. YUN 1984, p. 943. YUN 1978, p. 915, SC in the area during the year included 1,000 refu- res. 435(1978), 29 Sep. 1978. (6)YUN 1987, p. 891, GA gees of Eritrean origin living on the coast of the res. 42/132, 7 Dec. 1987. (7)A/43/536. (8)YUN 1987, p. 886, GA res. 42/106, 7 Dec. 1987. (9)A/43/717 & Corr.1 & Add.1.. Red Sea and a group of 70,000-80,000 persons in (10)YUN 1987, p. 888, GA res. 42/138, 7 Dec. 1987. Yemen from Democratic Yemen. In connection (11)A/43/594. (12)YUN 1987, p. 889, GA res. 42/128, 7 with the peace plan proposed in 1988 by the Dec. 1987. (13)A/43/593 & Add.1. (14)YUN 1987, p. 890, GA res. 42/126, 7 Dec. 1987. (15)A/43/592. (16)YUN 1987, p. 890, OAU (17) (18) Secretary-General and to end the dispute GA res. 42/139, 7 Dec. 1987. A/43/595. YUN 1987, in Western Sahara (see PART FOUR, Chapter I), p. 893, GA res. 42/127, 7 Dec. 1987. (19)A/43/535. (20)YUN (21‘) wherein UNCHR was called on to participate in 1987, p. 894, GA res. 42/129, 7 Dec. 1987. A/43/534. (22)A/43/510-S/20091. (23)A4/43/12/Add.1. (24)YUN 1951. p. 520. the census of Western Saharan refugees, UNHCR (25)YUN 1967, p, 769. (26)A/C.3/43/6. (27)A/43/591. was preparing a contingency plan towards their (28)A/43/729-S/20234.