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Let me take one more example of the comprehensive efforts under way, on
another continent. The response to the refugee situation is South-East Asia
has been unprecedented. It is almost hard to believe that more than a million
Indo-Chinese have been resettled outside the region, in less than a decade.
Still, there remain today almost 200,000 refugees in the area for whom
solutions are increasingly difficult to find. We have therefore attempted to
study the situation in all its aspects in order to suggest an integrated
overall approach. We know that third country resettlement cannot provide a
total solution to the problem. Resettlement efforts today, after an
outstanding achievement, barely exceed the increase in numbers. Particularly,
the number of boat people in camps has remained virtually unchanged for two
years now. We know that self-sufficiency in the region is not a realistic
option at this juncture. We know that voluntary return home has yielded
comparatively small results so far.
So, while there are no obvious solutions in sight for sizeable numbers,
while 3,000 new arrivals reach first asylum countries each month, in addition
to natural increase, what can UNHCR do? First create and maintain awareness
of the situation, which is no longer in the headlines. I have contacted
several governments emphasizing that, in spite of the response from the
international community, the continuation of joint efforts is still badly
needed. It seems that some measures are indeed under. consideration for
maintaining and possibly increasing the present resettlement rate, for
speeding up intake of those accepted, and for relaxing admission criteria.
Experience shows that, for a large number of Khmer and Lao refugees in
Thailand, we must look for other options than resettlement. For Lao refugees,
departures during the first six months of this year have decreased by 50% as
compared to the same period in 1982. Voluntary repatriation especially for
Lowland Lao - while modest, is encouraging, and must increasingly be explored
as a solution; all governments concerned should work toward this objective,
including the provision of assistance in returnees' villages of origin. For
Kampucheans, concrete practical steps must be taken by the parties concerned
and, when the repatriation programme is undertaken for those who freely wish
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