ments in the oneness of the world and the essential humanity of man. Largely as a result of that response he had not found it necessary to convene an emergency session of the Commission. He also expressed his appreciation of the ceaseless efforts by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to focus attention on the emergency in Africa and to mobilize resources in aid of the affected countries. 173. The present devastating drought was both a consequence and a cause of Africa's development problems. That and a number of other factors combined had debilitated the whole of Africa. To reverse present trends, resume the process of development and bring about an increasing measure of self- reliance, Africa needed to attack its problems at the root. That was the objective of the present Conference. - 48 - 174, The starting point for any attack on the development problems of must be an assessment of the Lagos Plan of Action and the Final Act of Lagos. Action to accelerate the implementation of the Lagos Plan must be based on a realistic appreciation of the causes of the gulf between the promise of April 1980 and Africa's dismal economic performance from 1980 to 1985. The conclusion of the debate on that issue in the Technical Preparatory Committee meeting was that the drastic departure from past socio­ economic structures and patterns and the internalization of the development process envisaged in the Lagos Plan of Action had yet to take place. Given the disturbing change in the attitudes and policies of some of the major donor countries toward international co-operation, with development aid fatigue having set in and the possibility of humanitarian aid fatigue to follow, he was compelled to repeat the advice he had proffered three years earlier: African Governments and peoples should adopt a siege 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the development problems of Africa, particularly the devastating drought and its impact on the continent's economy. The author is emphasizing the need for African governments and peoples to adopt a siege mentality and address the root causes of their development problems. The text also mentions the Lagos Plan of Action and the Final Act of Lagos, which suggests that it is related to economic development and international cooperation.

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