a co-ordinating body set up by several ecumenical organizations and voluntary agencies, in co-operation with the Government and UNHCR. Counselling, education assistance and help towards durable solutions, such as housing or establishment in professions or trades, were provided to refugees.
172. During 1977 the Argentine authorities were engaged in determining which refugees might stay in Argentina and those who would be required to leave, following the enactment late in 1976 of a government decree requiring all persons residing illegally in Argentina and who were unable to return to their countries of origin for political, social, racial or religious reasons to register with the authorities. In the course of the year, 2,300 refugees were resettled from Argentina. It was estimated, however, that opportunities would be required for at least another 2,500 in view of the above-mentioned factors. It seemed likely, on the other hand, that a larger number of refugees would be able to settle permanently in Argentina than in previous years.
173. Assistance to European refugees - particularly the old and those in special need was extended through various voluntary agencies and included monthly allowances, medical care and rehabilitition as well as placement in old-age homes.
174. Total UNHCR expenditure in Argentina amounted in 1977 to nearly $3.6 million, of which $2.4 million were for supplementary aid, some $540,000 for resettlement and nearly $290,000 for local settlement.
3. Chile
175. Since the closing in 1976 of the last of the safe havens created in Chile in the wake of the events of September 1973 to shelter refugees pending their resettlement, UNHCR's role was mainly limited in 1977 to reuniting family members still in Chile with refugee heads of family already resettled in another country. This action had brought about the reunion of some 5,800 persons by the end of 1977, including some 900 in 1977, most of them under UNHCR auspices. An over-all total of some 8,300 refugees have thus been resettled from Chile. With the full co-operation of all countries concerned, efforts continued, meanwhile, to promote the reunion of the 1,200 members of refugee families still waiting to leave. Legal assistance, counselling and supplementary aid were again provided to those arriving in Santiago from the provinces pending their departure for final destinations.
176. Assistance of various kinds, including medical aid, shelter and supplementary assistance, was extended to the 16 remaining members of a group of 50 refugees from a neighbouring country granted asylum in Chile in 1976. Following applications on their behalf by UNHCR to the Chilean authorities, all members of the residual group were resettled or repatriated voluntarily during the course of the year.
177. Assistance to Latin American refugees in Chile was channelled through a voluntary agency, the Fundación de Ayuda Social de las Iglesias Cristianas, while various non-governmental organizations gave assistance to European refugees in the form of professional establishment, annuities, counselling and legal aid.
178. Total UNHCR expenditure in Chile was considerably lower than in 1976, amounting to some $467,000, of which $341,000 were for transportation costs incurred in family reunion, $26,000 for local settlement, and $32,000 for supplementary aid.
-34-