CHAPTER III
ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES IN AFRICA
A.
General developments
84. The total number of refugees of concern to UNHCR in Africa at the end of 1977 was estimated at nearly 1.5 million, an increase of some 300,000 over the previous year owing to new influxes into various countries, as described in the country review below. In addition, there were approximately 1.8 million displaced persons of concern to UNHCR, for whom Special Programmes of humanitarian assistance have been undertaken.
85.
There were several major developments in 1977 which called for an expansion of UNHCR's assistance activities in Africa. These concerned particularly the arrival in various countries in southern Africa of South African refugee students following the Soweto riots in 1976; growing numbers of refugees from Namibia and Zimbabwe, mainly into Mozambique and other countries of southern Africa; a large-scale influx of Zairian refugees into eastern Angola; and increased numbers of refugees from Ethiopia, notably into Djibouti.
86. Other sizable groups of refugees to whom UNHCR continued to provide assistance under the General Programmes were Angolan refugees in Zaire, Ethiopians in the Sudan and refugees from Burundi in the United Republic of Tanzania. Under its Special Programme of humanitarian aid, UNHCR continued its assistance to Sahrawis in Algeria.
87. A phasing-out or reduction of UNHCR's activities was introduced wherever it was considered that the main objectives of its assistance had been achieved. This was the case for certain rural settlement projects financed from General Programmes through which refugees had been able to achieve a reasonable level of self- sufficiency. Likewise, the repatriation and rehabilitation programmes for refugees to former colonial territories were largely completed, with the exception of the repatriation of Angolan refugees in Zambia and Zaire.
88. Part of UNHCR's assistance to refugees from colonial territories was channelled through national liberation movements recognized by the Organization of African Unity (OAU), pursuant to the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly. Funds were accordingly made available to the African National Congress (ANC), Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), Patriotic Front/ZANU, Patriotic Front/ZAPU and South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), for relief aid, educational assistance, health facilities and other forms of assistance.
89. As indicated in annex II, table 1, expenditures under UNHCR's General Programmes in Africa totalled over $13 million, including $1.3 million from the Emergency Fund. The largest component of expenditure (nearly $10 million) was for local settlement, mainly in agriculture. Expenditures under UNHCR's Special Programmes in Africa totalled nearly $22.5 million. This included over $12 million made available through the UNHCR as co-ordinator of the United Nations Programme of Humanitarian Assistance to Angola, and nearly $1.3 million for United Nations
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