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NATIONS UNIES · UNITED NATIONS utem's WY.
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SERVICE DE L'INFORMATION
INFORMATION SERVICE
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OFFICE DES NATIONS UNIES A GENÈVE
UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AT GENEVA
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Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees
Press Release REF/1415 13 Novembre 1979
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17
CENTRE FOR 50,000 INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES TO BE SET UP IN PHILIPPINES
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Mr. Poul Hartling, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, today announced that two Agreements had been signed with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines concerning the establishment of a Refugee Processing Centre for 50,000 Indo-Chinese refugees on a site located on the Bataan Peninsula. The Agreements, for the construction and operation of the centre, are the result of studies and consultations conducted following the offer made by the President of the Republic of the Philippines in July 1979 to provide a site for the establishment of a Refugee Frocessing Centre for 50,000 persons.
Refugee Processing Centres (RPC) are designed for refugees already cleared for resettlement by the authorities of a receiving country, but whose departure cannot take place within three months. Up to 50,000 refugees from camps throughout South East Asia and Hong Kong will be accommodated in the Bataan Centre. It will be constructed and operated by the Government of the Philippines in close consultation with UNHCR.
The two agreements signed today provide for the construction of housing and basic facilities for 10,000 persons as well as for their care and maintenance during one year. Expansion of the Centre up to the projected capacity of 50,000 persons will be subject to the availability of funds. Contributions have thus far been received from the Governments of the United States of America and Switzerland. The Government of Switzerland has, in addition, provided valuable technical assistance in the planning of the project. The High Commissioner is seeking further contributions to allow for the completion of the project.
In making the announcement, Mr. Hartling stressed that he considered the establishment of a Refugee Processing Centre in Bataan to be "an outstanding contribution to the efforts of the international community to find a humane solution to the Indo-Chinese refugec crisis." The High Commissioner praised the Government of the Republic of the Philippines for "This renewed demonstration of its commitment to the highest humanitarian principles.”
Les communiqués sont destinés à l'information; ils ne constituent pas des documents officiels
For use of information media; not an official record