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in Thailand but it was proving difficult because of competition with local hand work.
The Secretary spoke of the scheme to settle 8,000 of the HONG tribe in Bolivia in areas similar to the highlands of Laos.
b) Papua New Guinea The Chairman reported on his recent visit.
Groups of West Irian freedom fighters had been crossing the border from Indonesia where they had fear of extermination. Papua New Guinea had been accused by Indonesia of harbouring dissidents but the frontier was impossible to protect completely. Papua New Guinea now appeared to be seeking better relations with Indonesia. There seemed to be little sympathy on the part of Papua New Guinea for the refugees and it was hoped that they would return.
No evidence was found of Vietnamese boat people landing in the area.
There was no immediate refugee problem on which the support of the voluntary organisations was required.
BANGLADESH
A cable from UNHCR appealing for help for the immediate needs of nearly 200,000 Muslim refugees from Burma had been circulated. An aide-memoire was tabled. It was feared that eventually there might be 500,000, mostly old people, women and children.
The Chairman referred to an article in the FarEastern Economic Review alleging that the refugees were partly to blame for action by Burma in turning them out. Many of them had been working actively against the Government.
It was reported that the refugees were better dressed and had more good than the local population and it was estimated that 20% were illegal immigrants and 80% genuine refugees.
Nevertheless, even though it was expected that these refugees might be able to return to Burma, Bangladesh needed help for immédiate relief, particularly for sanitation and medical supplies.
The UNHCR had made a special appeal and was coordinating the relief work. The UK Government, through ODM, had already given £750,000 to UNHCR. A plane carrying relief materials from ODM, OXFAM, CAFOD, etc. had already been sent and supplies were geing collected for further flights. Oxfam with the help of Concern (Ireland) had made £73,000 available with the hope of another £50,000. This had been used to send sanitation units, polythene sheeting, water tanks, etc. through its Field Unit in Dacca but the main contribution would be through UNHCR.
The Red Cross had contributed cash and supplies through the ICRC which had taken immediate action before the UNHCR had started operations. Over 50 Red Cross officers were working in ten of the camps.
Christian Aid was sending Rev. Kenith David to Bangladesh possibly as a member of the World Council of Churches team.
Save the Children Fund was sending immediate supplies by aircraft and long term supplies by sea. ODM had agreed to help the voluntary agencies to send supplies by Bangladesh Airlines or BIMAN Air Lines (Mr. SIVEIQI, Cargo Sales Manager, Heathrow, Telex 28766, Tel No: 897-9761 had offered to provide free freight from Heathrow.) Some voluntary organisations had had difficulty over this, so further enquiries were to be made.
The Bangladesh Government were taking a firm line and were not encouraging long term help from outside on the assumption that the refugees would have to return. If this proved to be impossible, a very difficult situation would arise.
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