VI.
VII.
Should the number of persons on board be large, it may at times be necessary for UNHCR to contact several countries which have contributed to DISERO in order to share the responsibility. In this case, each contributing country will provide a resettlement guarantee for part of the group.
Once the guarantee or guarantees have been conveyed in writing to the local autnorities, immigration and UNHCR officials will poard the vessel to interview the refugees. Upon completion of the interviews, the refugees will be allowed to disembark.
VIII. Upon disembarkation, each refugee is examined by the local health
authorities and given medical assistance as necessary.
IX.
UNECR officials will then interview each refugee family to determine its composition, obtain all relevant biographical details, and ascertain whether that family has any relatives or close links with another country. If such links are found to exist, UNHCR contacts the embassy of that country and applies for that family's resettlement. It is estimated that some 30 per cent of those originally quaranteed by the flag State or under DISERO are eventually resettled in other countries on the basis of family reunion or other close links.
what costs are reimbursable?
UNHCR has made arrangements to meet some of the financial costs incurred by shipowners in rescuing refugees at sea. On request, UNHCR will reimburse shipowners for costs which are specifically related to the care of refugees rescued at sea, not exceeding US$5 per day per refugee. Furthermore, UNHCR can reimburse shipowners for expenditures incurred in connection with the disembarkation of refugees, such as transportation expenses after disembarkation, immigration formalities, innoculations, etc. Reimbursement of such incidental expenditures should not exceed US $5,000 per ship. Payments can be made only upon presentation of documentary evidence. Fayment will only be made by UNHCR provided that such claims are not recoverable from any insurance carried by the ship or from any Protection and Indemnity Club to which the ship/shipowner miant belong. Expenses incurred by shipowners as a direct consequence of rescue, e.g. wharfage, tug assistance, berthing and unber thing, pilotage, etc., cannot be covered under this programme.
will there be any delays?
Delays in disembarkation normally do not occur if the required information is transmitted to the next scheduled port of call several days before the ship arrives. If the rescuing ship is flying the flag of a country in a position to resettle refugees, guarantees are provided immediately by the flag State and no delays need be expected. If a ship is flying the flag of a country which cannot reasonably be expected to resettle refugees, UNHCK will make arrangements with countries which have contributed to the disembarkation pool, so that delays will be reduced to a minimum.
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