EC/SCP/13 page 8
27.
On the receiving side, the screening of the returnees by the authorities of the home country and the actual movement of returnees to their homes may have to be organized, especially in countries where transportation presents considerable difficulties. In special situations where the returnees may have to walk long distances, special stop-over points will have to be created and interim care and maintenance will have to be ensured. Special projects for the rehabilitation and reintegration of refugees may have to be envisaged involving the provision of homes, health assistance, agricultural equipment and seeds. Such projects may be necessary in order to avoid situations in which re- patriating refugees find themselves in a precarious situation. The General Assembly has repeatedly stressed the importance of such measures and has called upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, other United Nations bodies, and non-governmental organizations to assist Governments for this purpose.
Conclusions
28.
From the various considerations mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, the following conclusions may be drawn:
(a) Voluntary repatriation, whenever feasible, is the most desirable solution for refugee problems. When, therefore, refugees express the wish to repatriate, the Government of the home country as well as other Governments concerned should, in co-operation with UNHCR, do everything possible to assist them to do so.
(b) The essentially voluntary character of repatriation should always be respected. This may call for appropriate arrangements for establishing the voluntary character of repatriation, both for individual refugees and in the case of large scale repatriation movements.
(c) Voluntary repatriation may be facilitated by appropriate measures to ensure that refugees are fully informed of the situation in their countries of origin. Visits of individual refugees or refugee representatives to inform themselves of the situation in their home country may also be of assistance in this regard.
(a) Voluntary repatriation may also be facilitated by the provision of formal guarantees for the safety of returning refugees and/ or the promulgation of amnesties by the countries of origin. It is desirable that appropriate steps be taken to ensure that the text of such guarantees or amnesties are brought to the notice of the refugees.
(e) Where refugees have expressed the wish to repatriate, it
is desirable that they be provided with the necessary travel documents, visas, entry permits and transportation facilities.