A/RES/49/174 Page 2 Noting with deep gratitude the readiness and willingness with which States members of the Organization of African Unity have always received refugees and displaced persons in spite of the economic difficulties facing most African States, Realizing the importance of assisting the host countries, in particular those countries that have been hosting refugees for a long time, to remedy environmental deterioration and the negative effects on public services and the development process, Recognizing the mandate of the High Commissioner to protect and assist refugees and returnees and the catalytic role she plays, together with the international community and development agencies, in addressing the broader issues of development relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons, Bearing in mind the necessity of facilitating the work of humanitarian organizations, in particular the supply of food, medicine and health care to refugees, returnees and displaced persons, deploring acts of aggression against personnel of humanitarian organizations, particularly those that have led to the loss of life, and stressing the need to guarantee the safety of the personnel of those organizations, Deeply concerned about the continuing critical humanitarian situation in African countries, particularly in the Horn of Africa, caused by persistent drought, conflict and population movements, Conscious of the situation of the refugees, returnees and displaced persons in east, west, central and southern Africa, Welcoming regional efforts, such as the mechanism for conflict prevention, management and resolution established by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its twenty-ninth ordinary session, held at Cairo from 28 to 30 June 1993, 3/ Taking into account resolution CM/Res.1521 (LX) on refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa, adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its sixtieth ordinary session, held at Tunis from 6 to 11 June 1994, 4/ Deeply concerned about the massive presence of refugees and externally displaced persons in Djibouti, which represents 25 per cent of the total population of the country, and by their uninterrupted influx owing to the tragic situation in Somalia, Deeply concerned also about the serious consequences of the presence of refugees and externally displaced persons for the already difficult economic and social situation in Djibouti, which is suffering from prolonged drought and the negative effects of the critical situation in the Horn of Africa, Recognizing that more than half of the refugees and externally displaced persons in Djibouti are located in Djibouti City in most serious difficulties and without direct international assistance, exerting intolerable pressure on the limited resources of the country and the social infrastructure and causing, in particular, serious problems of security, 3/ See A/48/322, annex II. 4/ See A/49/313, annex I. /...