9
NO. 179
Since 1981 nearly all of the U.S. contributions to assist
refugees in the regions of their homelands have been channelled
through the international organizations. Those organizations
in turn work through "operational partners," who often are the
same private voluntary agencies that assist us in refugee
resettlement. As refugees find refuge in Africa, in the Near
East, in Asia, in Latin America, in Western Europe, the
traditional terminology of "donor" countries blurs, for it is
the first asylum countries offering their "space"
President Nyerere's words who are the greatest donors of all.
in
Resettlement Often Not the Solution
The relatively small role played by international
resettlement as a solution can be seen in the sheer magnitude
of the refugee populations. There are currently five million
Afghan refugees. The United States resettles at most 3,000 a
year less than one-tenth of one percent. There are almost
three million refugees in Africa, with similarly limited
resettlement requirements. Refugee leaders themselves
acknowledge the uncertain value of resettlement in such
situations, seeing it as potentially divisive, and in some
cases as a form of resented leadership drain.
The humanitarian commitment to aid refugees in the regions
of their homelands puts great pressure on the resources
available for our total refugee assistance programs. In fiscal
year 1986
as the Committee knows
all parts of the