TNAG-0653-FCO40-802-Previously-closed-extract-Folio-87.-Now-released-and-reunite-1977 — Page 94

SPECIAL PROGRAMME FOR THE RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES

FROM THE INDC-CHINA AREA

MC/INF/175 Page 1

1. The last document on this special programme for the resettlement of refugees from the Indo-China area reported on the situation as at 30 September 1976 (MC/INF/168), and thus the present document will indicate the main developments during the final quarter of 1976 and those during the first quarter of 1977 i.e. the situation as at 31 March 1977. In both of the periods mentioned, the focus of ICEM's operations was on Thailand from which 6,006 refugees were resettled during the fourth quarter of 1976 while 3,412 were moved in the opening three months of 1977.

2.

Attached at Annex I is a statistical table showing the total movements effected by ICEM in 1976, and at Annex II a similar table for the period 1 January 31 March 1977. It will be noted that although the United States was the leading reception country in 1976, the numbers accepted in France were at only a slightly lower level and, in fact, during the first quarter of 1977 France was the major receiving country. The latter situation was due in part to the introduction only towards the end of March 1977 of a new "conditional entry" programme for the United States, but the regularity of the departures from Thailand to France at an average of 900 - 1,000 per month underlines the remarkable activities of the various organiza- tions in France.

3. More than 80 per cent of the Indo-China refugees currently arriving in France are without any sponsors so that the reception centre of the French Red Cross rarely has any free space. Placement in employment so that families can leave temporary shelters proceeds at a regular pace due to the action of France Terre d'Asile, supported by the Comité Nationale d'Entraide Franco-Vietnamien, Franco-Cambodgien, Franco-Laotien, while the French counterparts of the international migration voluntary agencies concentrate on resolving the social problems met with in the integration of the refugees.

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4. As was predicted in document MC/INF/168, the United States Expanded Parole Program (EPP) was completed by the end of November 1976. At that time, the Director of ICEM received a cable from the Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs, of the United States Department of State, which said inter alia: