Southern Latin America
E/1979/95 page 33
Argentina
171. At the end of the year, the refugee population of Latin American origin ha'd decreased substantially to about 6,000 persons as compared with 8,000 at the end of 1977. UNHCR's continued efforts to settle these refugees within Argentina or, when this was not possible, in third countries, the voluntary repatriation of a number of Chileans to their country of origin, and a low rate of new registration of refugees contributed to this reduction.
172. Local integration solutions were actively sought for refugees in Argentina. Fever such solutions could be implemented than had been anticipated, however, on account of the low number of permanent stay permits issued. Care and maintenance, counselling and legal assistance continued to be given to candidates for local integration and resettlement pending resolution of their situation.
173. UNHCR achieved results in its efforts to resettle abroad those refugees not permitted to remain. During the period under review, 1,838 persons were resettled in third countries, bringing the total to 9,353 since September 1973.
174. The European refugee population, most of which is elderly, also decreased from 26,000 to some 23,000 persons, through natural causes and naturalization. Assistance extended to this group through voluntary agencies included legal assistance for naturalization as well as care and maintenance.
175. Overall UNHCR expenditure in Argentina was lower than in previous years and amounted to some $3.3 million of which, inter alia, $1.8 million were for supplementary aid, $589,227 for transportation costs incurred in resettlement and $212,552 for local integration.
Chile
176. As in 1977, during the year under review, UNHCR's main efforts were directed towards reuniting family members still in Chile with refugee heads of family resettled in other countries. It had been anticipated that the amnesty decreed in April 1978 coupled with the reduced rate of departure of heads of family from Chile would result in a substantial reduction in family reunion requests. However, at the end of the year, 375 such requests (1,063 persons) were still awaiting approval. The Chilean authorities granted permission to repatriate to a limited number of persons who had requested to return under the amnesty.
177. Assistance in various forms was extended to Latin American refugees and refugees of European origin through the "Fundacion de Ayuda Social de las Iglesias Cristianes" and other non-governmental organizations.
178. Total UNHCR expenditure in 1978 amounted to some $393,800 of which $270,000 were obligated for resettlement.
Other countries in Southern Latin America
179. The refugee population in the other countries of Southern Latin America comprised about 30,000 persons of European origin, mostly elderly, and 500 Latin Americans at the end of 1978. The former benefited from a variety of local integration measures including establishment assistance, annuities, monthly allowances and institutional care.