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HKK 2431 1 RECLIVAD EN PLAYA NO. 31

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International

Communication

Agency

Embassy of the United States of America

55/56 Upper Brook Street

London W1A 2LH

Tello, Miy

Tel. 01-409 9000.

Ation Taken

--Wednesday, April 4th, 1979

536

U.S. INCREASES ITS AID TO REFUGEES

By USICA Congressional Correspondent, Peg McKay

AMBASSADOR DICK CLARK, U.S. COORDINATOR FOR REFUGEE AFFAIRS, SAID THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN U.S. MIGRATION AND REFUGEE

ASSISTANCE BECAUSE OF RECENT "DRAMATIC CHANGES" IN THE WORLD- WIDE REFUGEE SITUATION.

SPEAKING APRIL 3 BEFORE THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS SUP COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN OPERATIONS, CLARK NOTED THAT IN THE 12 MONTHS SINCE THE ADMINISTRATION FIRST PRESENTED ITS PROGRAM NEEDS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1979, "THE MAGNITUDE AND COMPLEXITY OF THE REFUGEE PROBLEM HAVE REACHED TRULY ALARMING PROPORTIONS.

"NOT ONLY ARE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE FLEEING POLITICAL PER SECUTION IN THEIR HOMELANDS," HE SAID, "BUT IN CERTAIN AREAS REFUGEES HAVE TURNED TO MORE DESPERATE MEANS OF ESCAPE. THE THOUSANDS OF BOAT PEOPLE COMING OUT OF INDOCHINA, FOR INSTANCE, URGENTLY NEED ASSISTANCE IF THEY ARE TO SURVIVE AT ALL.

IN ADDITION, HE NOTED, "COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM ARE BEGINNING TO REFUSE FURTHER AID TO REFUGEES BECAUSE OF OVERFLOWING REFUGEE CAMPS, ETHNIC HOSTILITY, AND PRE- EXISTING ECONOMIC AND POPULATION PROBLEMS."

HE STRESSFD THAT THESE FACTORS INCREASE THE URGENCY FOR THIRD COUNTRIES TO PROVIDE BOTH CARE AND MAINTENANCE FOR REFUGEES IN CAMPS AND RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES ELSEWHERE."

IN RECOGNITION OF THIS, AND OF "OUR HUMANITARIAN TRADITION AND LEADERSHIP ROLE," THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION HAS REVISED ITS PROJECTED REQUIREMENTS "TO MEET MORE OF THE NEEDS OF THE REFUGEES AND COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM," THE U.S. OFFICIAL SAID.

CLARK SAID THE ADMINISTRATION IS REQUESTING AN INCREASE OF 51.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE FISCAL YEAR 19 79 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION, BRINGING THAT REQUEST TO A TOTAL OF 104.9 MILLION DOLLARS. THE NEW FUNDING "WILL FINANCE THE RESETTLEMENT TO THE UNITED STATES OF 64,000 INDOCHINESE REFUGEES AND 35,940 REFUGEES FLEEING OPPRESSION IN THE SOVIET UNION AND EASTERN EUROPE." HE SAID.

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