principles intoaction. Belgium hasalwaysdeclared itselfreadytoenterintoa dialogue withcountries wishing todosoandhasnotfailedtoplaytothefullits roleintheconcert ofnations. Thisroleinvolves establishing contacts, using restraint andestablishing credibility andreliability withrespect toourexisting commitments. East......>tlestrivalry andtheconfrontation be~.:l'een thenuclear P~er6 ar.enotthe onlythreats tointernational life.Because oftradition andhistorical bonds, my country isparticularly interested intheAfrican continent, whoseseverecrisisis stillasourceofconcern.JSM/at A/40/PV.ll 79 (Mr.Tindemans, Belgium)., Today, econ~ic difficulties, drou9ht~ agricultural cti$e~andfoeXlshQttages areinmanyplacescomplicated andtheirconsequences multiplied byarmed conflicts, internal disturbances andinternational confrontations. Thecombination ofthesesituations h~sUltimately givenoverwhelming dimensions totheseevils. ~manyAfrican countries experience poverty, whichcarries initswakesuffering, deathanddisplacement ofpopulations fleeing natural calamities andthedisasters ofwal'. Inthefaceofthissituation, theinternational community didnotremain in~ifferent. Underthemomentum giventousbyourSecreta~-General, Mr.PerezdeCuellar, measures havebeentaken,andcontinue tobetaken,tomeet themosturgentneedsoftheAfrican peoples. Inordertoachieve greater effectiveness, theco-ordination oftheaidhasbeenstrengthened atthelevelsof thevarious organsoftheUnitedNations aswellasofthedonorcountries. Thiseffortmustbecontinued andsupplemented through longer-term actions geared towards thedevelopment ofthepopulations. Amongtheselong-term actions mycountry givesthehighestpriority tointegrated ruraldevelopment, theonly lasting solution totheproblems ofhunger andmalnutrition, theonlymeansof fighting ruralexodus andanarchic urbangrowth. Itisat.this goalofdevelopment ofruralareasthatBelgium aimedwhenitestablished theSurV'ival Fundforthe ThirdWarIdtohelpthefamine-str ickencountriestorecover andtoimprove their foodproduction inordertoachieve self-SUfficiency. InOctober 1983,withthehelpoffourunitedNations agencies, weselected thecountries oftheHornofAfricaasbeneficiaries becauseitisoneofthe regions oftheworldwhereuduet.ostar.vation$ themortal.:iq rateisoneofthe highest.JSM/at: A/40/W.lleo (Hr.Tindell8ns, Belgium) organizations, isalsoengaged inaseriesofeaergency aidoperations insever~l drought:-stricken African countries. Thisaid,inequipment: orcereals, istod~y indispensable, but:isobviously not:enough. Weconsider developaent: aidto developing countries asthefirstdUtyofindustrialized countries.Racialdiscrimination leadstoviolent confrontation, withthenumberof togainfromabloodbath oreconomic chaos. AsMr.Poosstated, onbehalfoftheleaving asideviolence andslogans, willseekoriginal solutions tocomplexA/40/PV.ll 81 hopestoconvince theSouthAfricans toadoptsuchapolicy.ofSouthAfrica, withinasystemofprotection ofminorities andthedialogue that Ihave ju~tmentioned. Throughitsclearaction, Belgium, together withtheTen,problems. Nocitizen ofSouthAfrica, regardless ofthecolourofhisskin,standsrostrum" totheGovernment oftheRepublic ofSouthAfricatoundertake forthwithThedecadeoftheseventies hasfavoured infrastructural development whichwas thecontinent. Likesomanyothers,I,too"shouldliketoappeal" fromthis(Mr.Tindemans" Belgi~) Atthistime,whentheinternational crisisishittingallcountries, butmore Itisinthiscontext thatIwishtocalltomindthetragiceventswhichin Ten,Ibelieve thattheonlysolution liesingranting equalrightstoallcitizensiMocent victims running intothehundreds. Thethreatofcivilwarloomslarger thedismantling ofapartheid whichBelgium condemns unreservedly. Mycountry appeals toallSouthAfricans tomovetowards constructive dialogue. MyGovernment ventures tohopettiatineachcommunity, r~:s.ponsible leaderswillbefoundwho,recentmonthshavetakenplaceinSouthAfrica. withititstrainofSUffering andmiseryleading totheeconomic collapse ofhalfanindispensable phase. However, somereforms ofanother kindarejustas necessary.se~erely thedeveloping countries, international solidarity together withasense ofresponsibility isnecessary nowaorethaneverbefore.AP/dw - . 11> •....' . . . .(continued inFrench)situation insouthern Africa. ThismakesusinsistontheneedforanurgentA/40/PV.ll 82 ..ha ~o!r .,"'''''..h';n. a.t1h';~" _.....--......,.......--.-_......1---. toinformhimofIamnotunawareofthedifficulty oftheresponse tobegivenandofthe efforts already undertaken byourOrganization. Asearlyas1972,ontheoccasion ofthetwenty-se:venth session oftheGeneral
**Analysis**
The text discusses the international community's efforts to address the severe crisis in Africa, including poverty, hunger, malnutrition, and conflict. It highlights the importance of integrated rural development, humanitarian aid, and economic development to alleviate the suffering of African populations. The text also touches on the need for dialogue and cooperation to address the root causes of the crisis.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Economic development