Situation of refugees from Afghanistan

Recommendation 922 (1981)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 30 September 1981 (8th Sitting) (see Doc. 4762, report of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography). Text adopted by the Assembly on 30 September 1981 (8th Sitting).

Thesaurus

The Assembly,

1. Recalling :

a Resolution ES-6/2 - January 1980 of the United Nations General Assembly, on "the situation in Afghanistan and its implication for international peace and security", calling for the total withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, and appealing to all states and national and international organisations to extend humanitarian relief assistance ;

b Resolutions 1/EOS - January 1980, on the Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan and its ensuing effects, and 2/EOS - May 1980, on the situation in Afghanistan, adopted by the Islamic Conference, which both condemned the Soviet intervention and asked for the total withdrawal of the Soviet troops, as did the Inter-Parliamentary Union at its April 1980 meeting ;

c its Recommendation 889 (1980) on the crisis in Afghanistan, condemning the invasion by the Soviet army in this country, as well as the violations of human rights which do not permit the population to determine its future freely ;

d its resolution on the refugees from Afghanistan (Resolution 729 (1980)), inviting the governments of member states :

1.4.1 to grant aid to the Afghan refugees, in cooperation with the international organisations involved in this humanitarian action ;

1.4.2 to encourage all political development to enable Afghan refugees to return to their country in conditions consistent with the respect for human rights;

2. Noting with satisfaction that the international community has given prompt and generous aid to the Afghan refugees both through the international organisations involved in this humanitarian action and, on the basis of bilateral agreements, directly to the Government of Pakistan ;

3. Expressing its appreciation for the work achieved by the international organisations which have given support to the Afghan refugees, particularly the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the League of Red Cross Societies ;

4. Remarking, however, that the influx of refugees leaving Afghanistan is constantly growing, and that they number over 2 million persons in Pakistan, about 1.7 million of whom will be assisted throughout 1981 within the framework of the UN programme ;

5. Noting also that almost 1 million Afghan refugees have gone to Iran ;

6. Considering that, because of this continuous growth, the budgetary estimations for the support of refugees have needed constant revision;

7. Noting that, according to figures of UNHCR established in agreement with the Government of Pakistan, the basic food requirements are now established at a total cost of US $ 119.75 million, and non-food and supplementary food requirements are estimated at a total cost of US $ 97.991 million ;

8. Considering that, taking account of contributions already received or expected to arrive, the amount for which new contributions for the assistance programme undertaken by the UN agencies, in particular the UNHCR, are required until the end of 1981 total some US $ 25 million, and that the needs until the middle of 1982 are estimated at US $ 110 million ;

9. Remarking that these badly needed sums do not overlap with the specific proposals for bilateral aid which the Government of Pakistan has submitted to friendly countries ;

10. Expressing its appreciation for the efforts deployed by the Government of Pakistan in assisting the refugees from Afghanistan, which will be obliged to take directly in charge, apart from any support, an estimated relief assistance requirement of US $ 163.80 million;

11. Concerned by the fact that the political situation in the area does not seem to be close to any improvement, but on the contrary, shows a constant tendency to worsen ;

12. Appalled both by the destiny of the Afghan population which, from approximate estimates, has already lost about 500 000 individuals, including freedom fighters and their families, and by the conditions in which a large part of it, including a great number of women, children and elderly people, are pushed to leave the country, crossing wide mountainous areas with an extremely harsh climate ;

13. Noting the initiative of the Government of the United Kingdom, supported by many governments, including particularly those of the member states of the European Communities, for the organisation of a widely representative international conference which should lead, through an overall negotiation, to the search of an equitable solution of the crisis ;

14. Expressing the hope that such solution can be found without delay, in order to restore the right of the Afghan population to self-determination and respect of human rights, including the right to return to their homes for those who have left the country,

15. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers invite the governments of the member states of the Council of Europe :

15.1 to increase their political and financial support for all the programmes of international organisations involved in the assistance of refugees from Afghanistan, as well as the Government of Pakistan which will take directly in charge, apart from any UN support, an important programme of assistance as indicated in paragraph 10 above ;

15.2 to make a special effort in order to meet with the new contributions required until the end of 1981 and those estimated for the middle of 1982, for the assistance programmes undertaken by UN agencies, in particular the UNHCR, which together total some US $ 135 million ;

15.3 actively to pursue a political line susceptible of promoting the developments needed for the reestablishment of conditions which could enable Afghan refugees to return to their country in conditions consistent with the respect of human rights ;

15.4 to support all the efforts made by governments, particularly those of certain member states of the Council of Europe, in view of the organisation of an international conference on the Afghan crisis.