UN Economic and Social Council Resolution 1981/31: Assistance to refugees in Somalia

1981/31. Assistance to refugees in Somalia

The Economic and Social Council, Recalling General Assembly resolution 34/61 of 29 November 1979 on the situation of African refugees, by which the Assembly requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to make every effort to mobilize additional resources to meet the needs of refugees in Africa, Recalling its resolutions 1980/9 of 28 April 1980 and 1980/53 of 24 July 1980, Recalling General Assembly resolution 35/180 of 15 December 1980, in which the Assembly, inter alia

(a) Endorsed the appeal of the Economic and Social Council to all Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and all voluntary agencies to increase further their assistance to the Government of Somalia and to the various refugee programmes sponsored by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees so as to ensure the adequate and continuous provision of emergency relief and humanitarian assistance to refugees in Somalia,

(b) Requested the Secretary-General, in co-operation with the High Commissioner, to dispatch a mission to Somalia to make a comprehensive review of the refugee situation in that country in the light of developments since the report of the United Nations interagency mission,[1] which visited Somalia from 10 to 16 December 1979,

(c) Further requested the Secretary-General, in co-operation with the High Commissioner, to arrange for the report of the review mission to be circulated as soon as issued, so that the international community might have an updated report on the condition of the refugees in Somalia and an assessment of their over-all needs, including measures for strengthening the social and economic infrastructure of the country,

Taking note of the report of the United Nations review mission,[2] which visited Somalia from 11 to 18 January 1981, providing up-to-date information on the condition of the growing refugee population in Somalia and an assessment of their over-all needs, Noting the appeal issued by the Secretary-General on 11 March 1981 for urgent international assistance to help the Government of Somalia to provide the necessary care and attention to the refugees, Recognizing the heavy burden placed on the Government of Somalia in caring for the refugees and the need for international assistance to share that burden,

1. Strongly endorses the appeal of the Secretary-General for urgent assistance to the refugees in Somalia;

2. Commends the Secretary-General for taking steps to promote continued and concerted international action to assist the Government of Somalia to provide relief aid for the refugees;

3. Expresses its deep appreciation for the prompt response, generous donations and support of the United Nations refugee programmes in Somalia by various Member States, international organizations and voluntary agencies;

4. Expresses its appreciation also for the efforts undertaken by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, as well as by the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization and other international organizations, to provide humanitarian assistance;

5. Takes note of the findings and recommendations of the United Nations review mission;

6. Takes note with appreciation of the measures which the Government of Somalia is taking to provide shelter, food and other services to the refugees in Somalia;

7. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue their efforts to mobilize humanitarian assistance for the relief and rehabilitation of the refugees;

8. Urges Member States, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and other intergovernmental and financial institutions to assist Somalia in strengthening its social and economic infrastructure so that essential services and facilities can be strengthened and expanded;

9. Further requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to arrange for all pertinent changes and developments in the refugee situation in Somalia since the visit of the United Nations review mission in January 1981 to be brought to the attention of the General Assembly at its thirty-sixth session so that the report of the review mission can be updated;

10. Further requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to submit to the Economic and Social Council at its first regular session of 1982 an updated report on the condition and needs of the refugees.

15th plenary meeting
6 May 198

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[1] E/1980/44. [2] A/36/136.annex.