3710th Meeting of Security Council: Situation in Zaire

Security Council welcomes multinational force proposal for eastern Zaire, urges member states to arrange for humanitarian aid delivery at 3710th meeting.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 00:06:38
• Production Date: 6 November 1996
• Asset Language: Original; English; French; Spanish
• Personal Subject: NUGROHO WISNUMURTI
• Corporate Name: ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY - OAU; UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE; MILITARY ASSISTANCE; SHELTER; VOLUNTARY SERVICE
• Geographic Subject: ZAIRE
• MAMS Id: 2363988
• Parent Id: 845355

Description

The Security Council, meeting early Saturday morning, expressed its grave concern at the deteriorating situation in eastern Zaire and welcomed the Secretary-General's proposal that a multinational force be deployed there for humanitarian purposes.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1078 (1996), the Council strongly urged Member States to prepare arrangements for the safe delivery of humanitarian aid in the region and report as soon as possible on those arrangements, to enable the Council to authorize the deployment of the multinational force. The Council also decided that the cost of implementing the operation will be borne by participating Member States and voluntary contributions, and encouraged all Member States to contribute to the operation in any way possible.

Further, the Council requested the Secretary-General, in consultation with his Special Envoy, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Organization of African Unity (OAU), among others, to draw up a framework for a humanitarian task force, with military assistance, if necessary, charged with: delivering short-term humanitarian assistance and providing shelter; assisting the UNHCR with the protection and voluntary repatriation of refugees and displaced persons; and establishing humanitarian corridors for the delivery of assistance and to help voluntary repatriation.

The Council also requested the Secretary-General to secure the cooperation of the Government of Rwanda in further measures, including deployment of additional international monitors, and to report to the Council, with recommendations, no later than 20 November.

The Secretary-General was also invited to consult, on an urgent basis, with the Secretary-General of the OAU and concerned States to determine the procedures for convening an international conference for peace, security and development in the Great Lakes region and to take all steps needed to convene the conference.

The meeting, which began 1:48 a.m., was adjourned at 1:55 a.m.

For further details please see source:
MEETINGS COVERAGE

For further details please see official record:
S/PV.3710