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BRIEFING NOTES FOR RESETTLEMENT DISCUSSIONS ON 21 JANUARY 1986
A. Indochinese Refureus
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General observations
1.
2.
The total number of Indochinese refugees in camps in Southeast Asia on 31 December 1985 was about 154,000, a reduction from some 162,000 on the same date in 1984
Were arrival and departure rates to remain unchanged, it could take 26 years, at the current pace, to clear the camps through the
This simplistic observation should process of resettlement. demonstrate that resettlement, as long as it is implemented as the main solution to the problem of Indochinesa refugees, requires a long term commitment by all resettlement countries.
Hopefully, durable solutions other than resettlement will become available for many of the Laotians and Kampucheans now in camps in Thailand. However, it is difficult to see any other solution for the Vietnamese refugees, whose number stood at 34,458 on 30 November 1985 compared to 37,577 a year before. Using a similar simplistic formula as above, it could take another 8 to 9 years to clear the camps of Vietnamese refugees.
Since no other solution exists at present for the Vietnamese, because it is evident that a waiting time of many more years is unacceptable from a humanitarian point of view (and likewise unacceptable to the countries in the region providing "temporary" asylum to refugees), UNHCR at present concentrates its resettlement efforts on the Vietnamese refugees.
Resettlement needs of the Vietnamese refugees
3.
Split Vietnamese families in Southeast Asia (an estimated 12 families, some 30 individuals)
and
has proven Because of the need
Refugee women when abducted by pirates are invariably violated. If they survive, they are usually abandoned in southern Thailand. Their husbands, parents or other relatives, if allowed to continue
Total numbers are small (at their journey, usually head for Malaysia. the moment there are a dozen such split cases! impossible to reunite such families between cam) · to make separate submissions from more than one country, resettlement
We would request that such and family reunification is often delayed. split familias, even if they have no relatives in the resettlemant country, be granted the most rapid consideration for resettlement.
4.
Rescued refugees
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(astimated places required in 1986, assuming carryover of 1985 quotas, 1,200)
UNHCR's continued attempts to promote the rescue of refugees in distress at sea, which have seen success in 1985, depend ultimately on
We the fore appeal to the ready provision of resettlement guarantees.
all countries in the DISERO and RASÃO schemes to signal as soon as possible renewal of their contributions for the year ahaad.