Papua New Guinea
220. In July 1978, the Government of Papua New Guinea. requested UNHCR's assistance to meet the needs of a group of some 1,000 persons from the neighbouring Indonesian province of Irian Jaya.. Under an exchange of letters with the Government, UNHCR nade available $100,000 from the Emergency Fund. The assistance programme thus financed included the provision of relief items, housing, and agricultural tools to benefit a specially needy group of 200 persons at Oksapmin, about 80 miles from the border.
Philippines
221. During 1970, arrivals of Indo-Chinese refugees and displaced persons in the Philippines by boat numbered 2,703, with departures to countries of permanent resettlement totalling 1,443, leaving a caseload of 2,064 in the country at the close of the year.
These figures do not include the 2,310 passengers on the ship "Tung An" which arrived in Philippine waters in the last days of December 1978. Passengers on this ship were allowed to disembark only under specific resettlement guarantees issued by third countries.
222. Under the Special Programme, UNHCR provided funds for care and maintenance and counselling and funds to promote resettlement in third countries. Total expenditures for care and maintenance as well as counselling in 1978 were $574,939.
The major portion of the care and maintenance programme was implemented by the Government and provided assistance to refugees and displaced persons accommodated at the José Fabella Centre in the lianila area. Assistance to individual groups of persons accommodated elsewhere was provided directly by the UNHCR Branch Office in the Philippines, and a counselling project was implemented by the Centre for Assistance to Displaced Persons.
Republic of Korea
223. A total of 90 Indo-Chinese refugees and displaced persons arrived by boat in the Republic of Korea in 1978, compared to 161 in 1977. In the course of the year, 115 of these persons departed to countries of permanent resettlement, and the caseload at the end of 1978 stood at only 75 persons. Under an agreement with the Republic of Korea National Red Cross, UNHCR has provided funds for care and maintenance. Total expenditures from Special Programmes for this purpose in 1978 amounted to $40,000.
Singapore
224. During 1978, a total of 1,065 Indo-Chinese refugees and displaced persons arrived in Singapore, compared to 300 in 1977. In the course of the year, 1,132 persons departed to countries of permanent resettlement, and the caseload at the close of 1978 stood at 725. Through its sub-office in Singapore, UNHCR provided funds for accommodation, medical supplies and subsistence. Expenditures for these forms of assistance totalled $450,000.