CONFIDENTIAL
FUGEES IN THE HORN OF AFRICA
Background
General
1.
As a result of the conflict in the Horn between Ethiopia
and Somalia and the policies of the Derg very significant
migrations of refugees have taken place in the region. It is
estimated that some 500,000 people have been moved from war-
affected areas to other safer parts of Ethiopia. Somewhere
close to 310,000 people have fled to Somalia, about 370,000
to the Sudan and somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 to Jibuti.
Early in 1978 HMG responded to the UNHCR appeal to assist refugees
in the Horn of Africa with a contribution of £50,000. HMG have
also made substantial contributions to similar appeals made by
the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Ethiopian Refugees in Jibuti
2=
Mr de Haan wrote to our Permanent Representative to the
UN Office in Geneva on 19 September asking HMG to provide
permanent settlement for some of a group of 529 Ethiopian refugees
currently in Jibuti in precarious circumstances.
Our Permanent.
Representative was instructed to convey to Mr de Haan his
assurance that HMG was deeply conscious of the plight of all
refugees in the Horn of Africa but stressing that the case of
these refugees would require careful consideration. Any positive
outcome would be conveyed to the UNHCR.
NOT FOR USE: It is highly unlikely that the Home Office will
give agreement to this request. At the very most they might
agree to look at applications on normal criteria (eg, links with
the UK, sponsored students) which these refugees are unlikely to
be able to meet.d
CONFIDENTIAL