The Organization of African Unity (OAU) Secretary General, Amara Essy, pledged on Thursday to make greater efforts to help African refugees.
”OAU will spare no effort in its determination to minimise the causes of this very unfortunate phenomenon of refugees in Africa,” Essy said in a statement issued to mark the United Nation’s World Refugee Day.
This year’s theme was the role of women refugees.
The African continent has some five million refugees and 20 million displaced persons, most of them women and children.
The African organization head commented in particular on the plight of women and children who make up 80% of the world’s 19,8 million uprooted people.
”We will have to be more innovative and revisit old programs aimed at improving women’s health, education and welfare,” Essy said.
He added that the time had come to ”reaffirm our commitment to, and determination for, the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.”
The pan-African OAU is slated to be replaced in July by the African Union (AU). – Sapa-AFP