In connection with the problem of displaced persons, a co-ordinating body to deal with their problems had to be established. - 49 - 179. He then drew the attention of the meeting to the call for a common platform for action at the national, regional and international levels and to the destabilization policies of South Africa vis-a-vis the front­ line States. 180. In conclusion, he appealed for a strategy of African development in accordance with the Lagos Plan of Action and stressed the need to accord priority to food, drought, desertification and Africa's mounting external debt; furthermore he expressed the hope that the Conference would recommend concrete measures to be taken by the Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, and wished the Conference success in its deliberations, 181. The representative of Zaire thanked member States on behalf of the outgoing Chairman, who had been unable to attend, for the confidence they had shown in Zaire in electing it to preside over the tenth ECA Conference of Ministers. The Special Memorandum on the Economic and Social Crisis in Africa adopted during that Conference had been received with unprecedented acclaim on the international scene. 182. The United Nations General Assembly, at its thirty-ninth session, had adopted a Declaration on the Critical Economic Situation in Africa, and the Secretary-General had set up a special office to deal solely with the crisis in Africa. The third African Regional Conference of FAO, held in Harare, Zimbabwe, in early 1985 had adopted the Harare Declaration which accorded top priority to the agricultural sector. African States individually had taken action to check the effects of the crisis, drought, desertification, adverse weather conditions and natural disasters. However, the greatest manifestation of Africa's will to tackle the crisis which ravaged it had 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the economic and social crisis in Africa, mentioning drought, desertification, food, and external debt. It also references the Lagos Plan of Action and the Harare Declaration, which prioritize agriculture and economic development. The tone suggests a focus on addressing the crisis and promoting African development.

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