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47. In recent weeks, a new and far-reaching development has taken place. Some
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200,000 Kampucheans sought asylum in Thailand by the end of October and another 130,000 are in the border area, many of whom are expected to cross into Thailand in the near future.
48. On 19 October 1979, the Prime Minister of Thailand announced that all the Kampuchean refugees would be granted temporary asylum in Thailand, that there would be no refoulement and that the refugees would be housed initially at holding centres until the setting up of a national refugee centre.
The Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees warmly welcomed this constructive approach, and several Governments, the United Nations system, ICRC and the voluntary agencies extended, on an urgent basis, support to the action of the Thai Government in favour of the refugees. In response
to these developments, the High Commissioner sent a special mission to Thailand on 27 October to assess the situation and to discuss with the Thai Government plans for immediate expanded assistance to meet the needs created by the influx. In order to assist the Government of Thailand in the establishment and operation of holding centres, UNHCR has made available to the Government and voluntary organizations an initial amount of over 2 million dollars.
49. The additional requirements arising from the massive flow of refugees from Kampuchea have been identified within the programme of relief assistance to the Kampuchean people and supplementary financial commitments have been obtained. The over-all programme proposed by the Government for eight months to be funded by UNHCR, totals $59,714,000. Meanwhile UNHCR is sending additional staff to Thailand, including a medical co-ordinator.
50. The new influx from Kampuchea has greatly increased the burden carried by Thailand, which is now sheltering close to 350,000 refugees. This is equivalent to two thirds of all the Indo-Chinese refugees in first asylum countries. Some of the refugees, specially among Laotians, have been living in Thailand longer than others. A new effort to increase resettlement places for refugees in Thailand needs the urgent support of Governments.
51. The Geneva Meeting, held on 20 and 21 July, has had a definite impact
on the course of events in South-East Asia. Its conclusions reflected a consensus on the need to mobilize all efforts to alleviate human suffering. A combination of policy adjustments and intensified international action has created conditions under which a certain degree of optimism might be permissible. However, the new influx from Kampuchea has reminded all concerned of the fragility of the situation, so long as the root causes have not been resolved. The problem can be contained and gradually eased only if countries of origin, of first asylum and of final resettlement continue to adhere to the conclusions of the Geneva Meeting.
Emergency humanitarian relief to the people of Kampuchea and the Pledging Conference of 5 November 1979
Relief assistance to Kampuchea is, to an extent, interwoven with the refugee
Indeed, the misery and deprivations afflicting the people of Kampuchea
problem.
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