Pointing totheincreasing numberofyoungwhites whoemigrate onaccount of conscription, thusexacerbating theongoing "braindrain", theuniversities ofCape TownandtheWitwatersrand released inApril1989thefindings ofasurvey conducted attheirmedical schools, whichshowedthatcOlnpulsory military service isthemostimportant reasonformedical students toleavethecoulltry. Over 50percentofmedical students atEnglish-language universities emigrate within threeyearsofgraduation. 501 83.Awelcome development wastheresultoftheVereeniging C')lIsult.atioll oft.he Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk(Dutch Reformed Church), heldinMarch1989. For thefirsttimeinitshistory, theChurchconfessed, "withhwnility andsorrow", thatitsinvolvement intheinception, introduction andlegitimaH.(H) ofi.lllilI.tbgiQ -·21-hadbeenunchristian. Itwasnevertheless criticized forfailing toft~dress seriously thefundamental aspects ofapartheid. InJune1989,apetition signedby 150prominent Afrikaners called upontheChurchtojoinasingleracially united Reformed ChurchinSouthAfrica andtoworkfortheabolitionof..f.\91\r..t.heiJ1. Dr.BeyersNaude, anAfrlkaner anti-aparthei~ leader, considered thatthepetition represented themostsignificant standtakenbytheChurchin2~years. D.D§Btabilil8tion andState terr~wm 84.Prospects forpeaceinthesouthern African regionreceived impetus following theagreement reached bytheGovernments ofAngola, CubE\andSout.ht\fdca, which allowed theinception oftheimplementation oftheUnitedNatiolls p.lEUlCorthe independence ofNamibia. Thenegotiations, sponsored bytheGovernment ofthe UnitedStatesandsupported bytheUnionofSovietSocialist RepUblics, haveopened theprospects fortheindependence ofNamibia and,itishoped, 1:01'peaceinthe region. 85.Acombination ofeconomic andpolitical factors seemstohElVE!ledPret.oria to thenegotiations reSUlting inthewithdrawal ofSouthAfrican troops E\n(\the departure ofCubantroopsfromAngola. Theimpactofcurrent financial sanctions, theeffects ofthearmsembargo, combined withvictories onthegl'ounc1 byCubanand Angolan forces, andthegrowing opposition toconscription amon~1whJteyouthin SouthAfrica,allbecameaneffective meansofexerting pressure "ponPletoria so astoforceittoreachanagreement. Acritical element intheprocess of negotiations wastheunderstanding reached between theUnited SLates AlldtheSoviet Unionfavouring effoTts tosolveregional conflicts bypeaceful meana. 86.Whilepeaceful solutions toconflicts intheregionmayyetemerge, the destructive effects ofApartheid aggression anddestabilization 81'Sevident inthe region. Recognizing thatreality, theGeneral Assembly oftheUnitedNations adopted resolution 43/50Gof5December 1988,calling fortheconvening inthe latterpartof1989ofaspecial session tofocusonA2A~ anditsdestructive consequences insouthern Africa. On11July1989,theAssembly dec:lded (decision 43/462) toholdthespecial session from12to14Oecembpr ofthatyear. Thedecision wasadopted without avote,ontherecommendation oftheChairman of theSpecial Committee. 87.'l'hecostsoftheregional conflict tothenineStatesofthE!Southern Afl'ican Development Co-ordination Conference (SADCC) havebeensubstantial. Estimates show thatbetween 1980and1988thelossinitsgrossdomestic product attriblltable to SouthAfrica Isactsofag9re8sion anddestabilhat.;.on amounted to$I.IS(jObillion, intermsof1988prices. Thesesumsareabsorbed bydirectwarclarn£Iqe, particularly inAngola andMozambique, higherspending ondefence bV0.11the countries, thelossofeconomic production, boycotts andembargoes imposed by Pretoria andcaringforthegrowing numberofrefugees rmdInt.Arnn] Iy(HBplac(>cl people.ll/TheUnitedNations Children ISFund(UNICEF) launchecl Lw/)flmol'genc:y appeals foraidtoMozambique andAngola, thetwocount!leawhose dd.1I"1I1111 flU!mOBt seriously affected bywaranddestabilization. IteallE!clforf:1nJnl.etrHlUona] commitment oflong-term economic aidtotheregion. 88.Destabilization, carried outdirectly bySouthAfdcElorthrow,fh Heaisteucia Nacional deMozambique (RENAMO), hashadaprofoundly dElsts:uctive tl[[e(:l.on Mozambique. Thedisruption causedtoitseconomy hasmElcleMozBmhJ ~J1H'!tlElJ:lenc1eut un -·22-foreign donors, whosupplyitwith$800million, plus500,000 tonsofgrain4ach
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the political and social situation in South Africa and its neighboring countries, particularly the impact of apartheid and the struggle for independence. While economic issues are mentioned, they are not the main focus of the text. The text also touches on humanitarian aid, education, and health, but these topics are not central to the narrative.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Education, Health