AFR/RC31/R12: Special cooperation programmes The Regional Committee,
Having regard to the relevant resolutions of the World Health Assembly1 and the Regional Committee; 2
Considering the acts of aggression continually perpetrates by the minority racist regime of South Africa against the front-line countries;
Considering the recent Large-scale armed invasion of the People’s Republic of Angola, part of the national territory of which is occupied by the barbaric hordes of South Africa;
Considering the atmosphere of fear, instability and insecurity that prevails among the populations of the areas attacked, which jeopardizes health programmes, and the efforts by the by the People’s Republic of Angola to implement the strategy for Health for all by the year 2000;
Considering the harmful consequences of the destruction of the infrastructure and the large number of victims resulting from that aggression on the health status of the populations in the southern region of the People’s Republic of Angola, occupied and bombed witout respite by the racist regime of South Africa;
Considering the efforts of the front-line States to implement the resolutions and decisions of the UN, OAU, and WHO reaffirming the right of the peoples of Namibia and South Africa to independence, international sovereignty and health;3
Considering that all the countries of the Region should provide unconditional support for the front-line countries and the National Liberation Movements recognized by the OAU;
Considering the health repercussions of a continuation of the illegal occupation and barbaric bombing, as well as of the possibility of an extension of the conflict,
1. CONDEMS in the strongest terms the invasion of a continuation of the People’s Republic of Angola by the army of the racist government of South Africa, spreading death, injury and poverty among the valiant Angolan populations;
2. COMMENDS the solidarity shown by the font-line countries and the remarkable efforts made by the People’s Republic of Angola in support of the peoples still under the iniquitous yoke of racist South Africa;
3. EXPRESSES its satisfaction with the prompt intervention of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations and the international community in response to the serious situation prevailing in southern Africa;
4. INVITES Member States to strengthen the backing and support they give to the People’s Republic of Angola in the form of drugs, equipment, transport and personnel;
5. REQUESTS the Regional Director to:
1 Resolutions WHA29.23, WHA31.32, WHA34.31 and WHA34.34.
2 Resolutions AFR/RC29/R8 and AFR/RC30/R14.
3 WHO Constitution : health = state of physical, mental and social well-being.
(i) make suitable arrangements for the dispatch of a mission of the Regional Committee to Angola to enable concrete measures to be taken by WHO and the international community;
(ii) give priority to formulating the special programme of emergency cooperation with the People’s Republic of Angola;
(iii) implement this programme as rapidly as possible to enable Angola to find solutions to the medical and health problems arising from the current aggression;
(iv) make all necessary efforts as rapidly as possible to enable Angola to find solutions, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, the development banks and the international community to obtain their support in restoring health activities in the areas of the People’s Republic Angola which have suffered from the consequences of war;
(v) submit to the thirty-second session of the Region Committee a detailed report on the implementation of this resolution;
6. INVITES the Director-General to refer the problem to the United Nations system, the development banks, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the special programme of emergency cooperation with the People’s Republic of Angola.
September 1981, 31, 14
