10
b)
c)
(4)
Other special programmes
i)
Switzerland: 250 places for disabled refugees including accompanying family members over a period of three years.
ii) Sweden: Special quota of 50 places per year for disabled refugees and accompanying family members. The possibility to increase by the end of the year depends on the use of the overall annual quota and availability of budgeted places.
iii) France: Announced a special quota of 100 (cases) in the framework of the "International Year for Disabled Persons" in 1981. From 1981 to 1984, France admitted approximately the same number of disabled refugees per year plus accompanying family members without announcing or formally adhering to a specific quota. In 1985, the number of accepted cases decreased substantially.
iv) Finland: Implemented during 1984 and 1985 two "ad-hoc" admission programmes for disabled Vietnamese refugees and their families (a total of 56 cases, or 180 persons), and has promised to continue resettlement of disabled refugees in the future.
No special prozrammes
i) Australia: accepts in principle disabled Indochinese refugees on a case by case basis as well as a few Afghan and Iranian disabled refugees, but maintains no separate formal quota.
11) USA: accepts disabled refugees on a case by case basis in accordance with criteria established and implemented by the Centre of Disease Control (CDC) in consultation with the Department of State.
New special prograuma.
Canada: Since 1983 efforts have bean made to create a special programme for disabled refugees. Six provinces announced in 1985 their willingness to sign SPAR (Spacial Programme for Assistance to Refugees) agreements. Ten cases have already been considered by Quebec and a few more by other provinces. It is therefore expected that, as of 1986, the admission of disabled will be possible, including those who would otherwise be excluded from resettlement in Canada for medical reasons..
Problems and Suggestions
3.
a)
Delay in decisions:
Often the time between a submission by UNHCR and the decision by a country is much too long (irrespective of whether the consideration is given under a special programme or not). result the health conditions of the refugees concerned deteriorate, sometimes to the extent of becoming irreversible, even resulting in death or suicide.
As a