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imdiate need for blankets, clothing, transport, medical supplies and services, tools, seeds and some assistance towards primary education.
On 23 August Frince Sadruddin Aga Khan, who was appointed
Co-ordinator of this operation, appealed to governments for contributions to help meet these needs. He said the resources needed for these and other requirements totalled approximately US$32.5 million.
HMG are giving urgent consideration to this appeal.
Refugees in the Western Sahara
In the course of this year there has been a plethora of appeals for international help for the refugees who have been displaced as a result of guerrilla fighting in the Western Sahara. HMG did not respond to earlier appeals from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for aid for refugees still within the Western Sahara, nor from the League of Red Cross Societies (LRCS) for Sahran refugees in Southern Algeria and Moroccan refugees from Algeria (although British voluntary agencies answered the Red Cross appeals by donating cash and material aid amounting to approximately £27,000). In April the UNHCR appealed to the Secretary of State for a special contribution to the Commissioner's Fund for Humanitarian Assistance to Refugees from the Western Sahara now sheltering in Algeria.
Following visits to the area by representatives of the LRCS, the UNHCR, and by a number of journalists, a clearer picture of the refugees' situation in Southern Algeria has emerged. Approximately 46-50 thousand were estimated to be living in camps in Tindouf. It seemed that short-term emergency problems had been overcome, that the camps were reasonably well organised and food had been supplied by the Algerian Red Crescent.
None of our EEC partners responded to the UNHCR appeal mentioned in paragraph 2 above. We do however know that Sweden decided to make a contribution of $220,000, and three countries have responded to an earlier League appeal (viz the Netherlands fls 500,000; Sweden
1m kr; and Norway 1m Kr).
The case for a contribution by HMG to the UNHCR appeal was considered. Because the UNHCR appeal was designed to benefit the refugees in Algeria alone, it was agreed that a donation should be made by the ODM to the British Red Cross for use in responding to appeals (using the formula "for refugee problems arising from the decolonisation of the Western Sahara"). A sum of £20,000 was agreed with the Treasury, and has been passed to the British Red Cross. They in turn have channelled it to the LRCS who, in passing it forward, will have decided on the apportionment of the money between the Moroccan and Algerian Red Crescents on the basis of need.
Appeal for "Small Boat" Refugees
On 28 July, the High Commissioner appealed to the international community to help alleviate the problem of Vietnamese refugees who leave Vietnam on small, and sometimes unseaworthy, craft and who are refused entry at various ports in S.E Asia.
The High Commissioner's plan to governments is at Annex E. This is being considered at present by HMG and it is hoped a response
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will