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difficult circumstances. We particularly support the establishment of camps designed to make the refugees self- sufficient. We are concerned that refugees, particularly young children, should not be placed under political pressure or intimidation and should if possible be kept together or in touch with their families. We believe that improvements could be made in this area, in order to respect the wishes of the refugees themselves.
Defensive Points (to be used if necessary)
Our ability to issue passports to Rhodesians is limited by United Nations Security Council Resolution No 253 of 1968 (on mandatory sanctions). We recognise, nevertheless, that we have a moral obligation to assist certain categories of Rhodesians to travel. This obligation is discharged through the concessionary passport system introduced in 1968.
These pass- ports are available to Rhodesians of all races. Tight control of the issue of concessionary passports is necessary to avoid possible abuse of the system (eg by sanctions breakers).
UNHCR representatives have urged HMG to encourage Rhodesians to apply for Convention Travel documents (CTDs), issuable by governments under the 1951 Convention, rather than conces- sionary passports. These are intended essentially for refugees who cannot obtain alternative documents from their country of nationality. We do not, therefore, think it right to encourage Rhodesians to apply for CTDs if they can prove their nationality and are eligible for our own concessionary passports. However, if the UNHCR or Patriotic Front leaders wish to encourage applications for CTDs instead of concessionary passports, this is a matter for them to decide. We would not oppose them in this.
It is always open to other governments to provide Rhodesians with CTDs or alternative documents if they consider that these are more appropriate than British concessionary passports in certain cases. In practice, however, there are difficulties: CTDS cannot be issued in Mozambique, which has not ratified the 1951 Convention; and, for political reasons, governments in the other states, such as Zambia, insist that Rhodesians
a British responsibility and should be documented as far as possible by the British. We are discussing ways of over- coming these problems with the Zambian Government and the UNHCR representative there.
The Horn of Africa
Military conflict in the Ogaden during 1977-78 and in Eritrea in 1978 has created a major refugee problem in the Horn of Africa. Following the Ogaden War the UNHCR estimated the number of refugees in urgent need of help as 500,000 in Ethiopia, 150,000 in Somalia and 10,000 in Jibuti. Somalia estimates that there are as many as 510,000 refugees within its borders (compared with a total population of less than 3 million). Eritrean refugees in the Sudan number well over 50,000 with present hostilities adding to the flow.
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