H.
Concluding remarks
A/34/627 English Page 13
43. Since the end of 1978, the problem of Indo-Chinese refugees has reached staggering dimensions. In June, the exodus attained its peak with 70,000 people arriving in countries of temporary asylum in South-East Asia. The plight of the refugees was compounded by the suffering and loss of life among the boat people in the South China Sea. The influx created serious political, economic and social problems in South-East Asian countries, which in turn endangered the continued adherence to the principle of first asylum. Offers of resettlement places remained inadequate, resulting in a constant growth of the refugee population in already crowded camps.
44. The Meeting held at Geneva on 20 and 21 July, concentrating on the humanitarian aspects of the problem, tried to devise a response mainly on the basis of two complementary approaches: the channelling of the outflow of refugees from Viet Nam through agreed procedures of orderly departures at a level which could stop or at least reduce to manageable proportions the influx into first asylum countries, and a substantial increase in the availability of resettlement places enabling a significant and progressive reduction of the backlog in refugee camps in South-East Asia.
As
45. These two steps were rapidly put into effect following the Meeting. a result, during the months of August and September, the departures from countries of temporary asylum exceeded the arrivals by some 10,000, and a proportional net decline was registered in the population of refugee camps. The UNHCR is trying to maintain the level reached in September of 25,000 departures per month in an effort to utilize over a 12-month period the total reserve of 273,500 resettlement offers for the one-year period extending from July 1979 to June 1980. It is clear, however, that, even with such a rate of resettlement, and assuming a stabilization and hopefully a decrease in the number of arrivals, the elimination of the backlog would take more than two years.
The continuation and further development of present policies aiming at channelling all departures from Viet Nam directly to receiving countries, the maintenance of a very high level of resettlement offers and the availability of processing centres, which would improve the living conditions of the refugees and alleviate the burden of first asylum countries, are therefore of vital importance.
46. Recently, substantial progress was achieved regarding orderly departures. The working procedures were refined and the necessary administrative and organizational measures worked out. Lists are now being exchanged of persons considered eligible to depart from Viet Nam directly to resettlement places. Some countries have agreed to broaden the scope of criteria for eligibility beyond family reunion cases. It is hoped that other receiving countries will act similarly. Both UNHCR and the Government of Viet Nam are expecting 5,000 or 6,000 departures a month once the arrangements have become fully operational. Such a rate of departure should significantly reduce arrivals in first asylum countries.
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