E/1979/95 page 53
CHAPTER VIII
PUBLIC INFORMATION
291. During the period under review, the international media paid particular attention to refugees and displaced persons. Developments in South East Asia with thousands of persons leaving the Indo-Chinese peninsula in small boats served to focus public attention on the world-wide refugee problem and on UNHCR's role of providing both assistance and protection to the uprooted. The situation of persons from Burma in camps in Bangladesh and their subsequent repatriation to Burma, the increasing numbers of refugees in the Horn of Africa and in southern Africe, the fate of Nicaraguan refugees who fled to neighbouring countries during the autumn of 1978 received, among other refugee situations and developments, wide coverage by the press.
292. The High Commissioner's missions in Africa, Europe, North America and South East Asia were well covered by the news media, as was the mission by the Deputy High Commissioner to South East Asia. Several leading journalists came to Geneva in December 1978 to cover the Consultative meeting with interested Governments on refugees and displaced persons in South East Asia. The High Commissioner gave press conferences and interviews to journalists, and frequent briefings were held for the press by UNHCR staff members who had either recently returned from mission or had expertise on subjects of topical interest.
293. Public Information effectively sustained interest in the work of the Office through regular contact with the press, radio and television. UNHCR Representatives continued to keep the press in their regions informed, and in a number of regional offices where media interest is high, staff members have been specifically designated to deal with the media. Numerous press releases were issued and interviews, briefings, press conferences and background sessions were organized both for individual journalists and groups. There were increasing requests by journalists and television crews for UNHCR assistance in covering refugee situations in Asia, Africa and Latin America. UNHCR did its best to accede to these requests. In one special case UNHCR seconded a staff member to assist with the production of a documentary on "boat people".
294. Public Information intensified its co-operation with voluntary agencies both those with whom it has had a long association and others, with whom it has developed new ties. UNHCR provided a wide range of Public Information material (films, photos, posters, printed material, calendar, etc.) to support agency fund-raising and information campaigns of these agencies.
295. Public Information's Film Department continued its active production programme and provided film coverage of a number of refugee situations. Several hundred television outlets were given access to UNHCR film clips through a major news distribution network. A film on persons from Burma arriving in Bangladesh entitled "A Burden to Share" was distributed, some copies through the League of Red Cross Societies. Two films on resettlement, "The Swiss Experience" and "Waiting" have been widely used by organizations dealing with the problem of settling refugees in their communities, and segments of these films have also been televised. "The Restless Wave", a condensed version of a Netherlands television chain Tros film on the 'boat people, has been widely circulated as well. A film on the refugee situation in Africa, "Africa's 50th State", was circulated to African televisions to publicize the Pan African Conference on the