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Speech for Lard Trefgarne
VISCOUNT BUCKMASTER SHORT DEBATE 27 FEBRUARY 1985
MY LORDS,
I AM MOST-GRATEFUL (TO THE NOBLE LORD, VISCOUNT BUCKMASTER, FOR
wit be stated.
IPS TH
GIVING YOUR LORDSHIPS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS IMPORTANT
SUBJECT. IT IS AS TÓPICAL AS IT IS HEARTRENDING.
THE PLIGHT
OF THE REFUGEES IN AFRICA THAT WE WATCH NIGHTLY ON OUR TELEVISION
SCREENS FROM THE COMFORT OF OUR LIVING ROOMS HAS AWOKEN THE
indeed across
CONSCIENCE OF THIS COUNTRY AND OF THE WORLD. IT IS RIGHT THAT
WE SHOULD DISCUSS THIS ISSUE. I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT
THE GOVERNMENT'S VIEWS ON RECORD AND TO RECOUNT THE STEPS THAT
WE ARE TAKING.
THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM IS DAUNTING. IT CAN, LIKE
MOST THINGS, BE REDUCED TO STATISTICS.
THESE TELL THEIR OWN
TALE OF TRENDS AND COMPARISONS, EVEN IF THEY DISGUISE THE HARSH
In recently
A
DETAILS OF INDIVIDUAL SUFFERING. IN 1959, WORLD REFUGEE YEAR,
A QUARTER OF A CENTURY AGO THERE WERE 1.2 MILLION REFUGEES.
LAST YEAR THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE REGION OF 10 MILLION.
THIS IS CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN AT THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD
WAR, THE GREATEST UPHEAVAL OF MODERN HISTORY. MOST REGIONS OF
THE THIRD WORLD ARE AFFECTED. IT IS DIFFICULT TO HAVE A
REALISTIC FIGURE FOR AFRICA IN PRESENT CONDITIONS. BUT ESTIMATES
ARE IN THE REGION OF 4 MILLION • IN ASIA SOME 4 MILLION AFGHANS
ARE IN REFUGEE CAMPS. THIS IS THE LARGEST SINGLE CONCENTRATION
1
HKK 24315
RECEIVED IN KALMIGHTY
1 MAR 1985
REGISTRY
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