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(j) The progress made on the UNHCR Ship Rescue Scheme
(RASRO)
(See para 8 of FCO Memo and answer to question "C")
As you know the UK has already accepted the scheme. On the
proposal of UNHCR we have pledged a quota of 150 places during
the first year which if maintained should result in an
overall reduction of refugees accepted for resettlement
(our current annual average is over 300). We are in close
touch with UNHCR regarding this new scheme which we think
by evening out the flows will be beneficial both to the
refugees and resettlement countries. UNHCR hope that the
scheme will begin functioning shortly, when the requisite
number of RASRO places have been pledged.
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