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CONFIDENTIAL
37TH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
Brief 3 (a)(ii).
UNHCR ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Line to Take
Recognise the importance of supporting general programme activities which
include care and maintenance programmes. UK has already generously responded this year to special appeals for these activities in African countries.
We are encouraged by the inclusion of afforestation programmes.
Background
There are two main approaches to alleviating the problem of fuel shortage and
associated hardship and environmental damage:
i. to reduce fuel demand through more efficient stoves and, where
feasible and acceptable, through use of larger scale and better
controlled cooking facilities for groups of families, rather than
individual families;
ii.
to provide fuel (either traditional fuel or kerosene/LPG/coal)
from outside the camp area, as part of the support package for the
refugees.
The planting and nurturing of trees by refugees will eventually benefit the entire area. In exchange refugees could receive fuel for their immediate
needs. It is also the kind of programme that the UK would be willing to
consider from ICARA II funding.
Disaster and Refugee Unit
Bilateral Coordination Department
26 September 1986
CONFIDENTIAL