legal protection.

Prime responsibility for such displaced persons lies

with their government and, as the booklet points out,

without that government's consent it is extremely difficult for anyone to assist them. The League of Red Cross and Crescent Societies (LRCS), the Internationall

Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UNHCR and voluntary

agencies can all help. The LRCS has a mandate, together

with the National Red Cross Society, to bring relief to

all victims of natural disasters, including those

displaced. The International Committee of the Red Cross

has a mandate to ensure that the victims of armed

conflicts, international or not and of internal

disturbances and tensions, receive (legal) protection and

assistance. The UNHCR has a mandate to provide material

assistance and legal protection to mandate refugees and

to offer its good offices in the assistance of displaced

persons. These three organisations co-operate closely

with one another, the governments concerned and other voluntary agencies to ensure/ as far as possible within

that,

eLi

-

X

X

available resources, the material needs of the displaced

are met. Thus there seems little need for major changes

in the machinery existing to provide material for the

material needs of displaced persons.

X

The main problem in Central America lies in the

physical and legal protection of persons displaced as a

result of armed conflict or civil strife. As said above,

the ICRC has a mandate to provide legal assistance

Only

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