-6-
Overall assessment of the situation
33.
Compared with the great refugee problems of the past, the numbers involved in South-East Asia are not unmanageable. The difficulties arise not so much from the actual numbers facing the individual countries of the region but rather from the historical and political complexities of the problem and the uncertainties as to the future. It is these factors which have inhibi-
ted durable solutions.
34. The three possible durable solutions for the refugees and displaced per- sons are voluntary repatriation, local settlement and, in the absence of these alternatives, resettlement outside the country of first asylum. In South-East Asia only the latter has, to date, produced significant results, but the con- siderable efforts made by various countries have not kept pace with the ever- increasing needs. The pending case load has thus continued to increase dramatically. Precisely because the problem has not been contained, local settlement on any significant scale has not been possible in South-East Asia. Conditions in Indo-China have meant that voluntary repatriation, except for the Kampucheans who were in Viet Nam, has been extremely limited.
35. Both for the land cases in Thailand and the boat cases throughout the region, the solutions provided to date have been outrun by events, despite grunt efforts. A backlog of pending cases has built up. As a result the countries of the region have lost confidence in the ability of the international community to control the problem. In turn, as the exodus has continued the internationally accepted principles of asylum and non-refoulement have been breached. Moreover, lacking the reassurance that the problem will be contained, the countries of the region have been reluctant to provide local durabi solutions where these might otherwise have been possible.
35.
There is now no way in which the problem can be resolved by piecemeal measures. No single action, however gonerous, will suffice. More than ever, the crisis demands ccherent and closely coordinated action of the international community if further lives are not to be lost. UNHCR and the UN system, together with other inter-governmental or non-governmental organisations, mus and will continue to play their rôle, but the solution to the problem lies, ultimately, in the hands of Governments A plan of action is suggested below
III.
SUGGESTED PLAN OF ACTION
37.
To resolve the problems in the area, it is essential that any plan of action address itself to the situation in its totality and be comprehensive its search for solutions. The objectives to be achieved are:
first, that wise and humane measures are taken by those concerned to remedy a situation in which thousands upon thousands of Indo-Chinese leave th homes in the present manner.