MC/INF/175 Page 4
Financial Aspects
8.
During 1976, a total of $9,317,969 was expended by ICEM on this special programme. This was approximately $1.2 million higher than the expenditure in 1975 which amounted to $8.1 million. These amounts were mainly used for the transportation costs of 20,340 persons in 1976 and 25,464 persons in 1977. The total amount required reflects the high transportation costs involved in movements from Asia to Europe or to the United States. At the same time, the fact that the movements could increase by 25 per cent while the costs increased somewhat less than 15 per cent was largely attributable to the successful outcome of ICEM's negotiations for reduced air fares and the greater utilization of unused space on normal scheduled air flights as opposed to the numerous charter flights arranged in 1975 when the time factor was the overriding consideration.
9.
Slightly less than one third ($2.9 million) of the total 1976 costs represented withdrawals from the contributions made by UNHCR to the ICEM Loan Fund for Refugees Outside Europe (ILFROE). Reimbursement of transport and service costs for movements to their countries were received by ICEM from the Governments of the Federal Republic of Germany, Netherlands and the United States, while lump sum contributions for the
The funds received from UNHCR programme were received from Austria and Norway.
emanated from the contributions made by various governments in response to appeals made by the High Commissioner during 1976.
10.
It should be mentioned in connexion with paragraph 9 above that in 1977 many Indo-China refugees particularly those whose transport costs are covered by project agreements with UNHCR - will be signing promissory notes for collection by voluntary agencies under ILFROE arrangements. Such collection cannot be realistically anticipated at a high level because of the following factors, most of which do not influence the normal ICEM loan fund arrangements:
(a)
As a result of the economic recession in many receiving countries, Indo-China refugees are often initially only able to find low-paid jobs which enable them
just to cover current expenses;
(b) Promissory notes are being introduced for the first time in a number of European
receiving countries where voluntary agencies have not had experience of or any machinery for collection;
(c) Frequently the voluntary agencies with which ICEM has ILFROE agreements are not
directly involved in the initial reception and placement of cases;