CONFIDENTIAL
British assistance for refugees
6. British aid to UNHCR for use with Rhodesian refugees in neighbouring countries compares very favourably with contributions by other donors: in total HMG have so far contributed £1.8 million towards UNHCR's relief work in Southern Africa since 1976. In April last year the ODM made a special contribution of £200,000 for its work among Rhodesian refugee children in Botswana; and on 13 February 1978 Mrs Hart announced a further grant to the UNHCR of $1.75 million (about £900,000) for Rhodesian refugees, parti- cularly children. $825,000 of this sum has been earmarked for cuse with refugees in Botswana. This is in addition to contributions
to the work of the ICRC in Southern Africa of £100,000 in 1977 and £500,000 in 1978, and a grant of £238,000 in July to the work of Christian Care, a religious relief organisation working inside Rhodesia. In all cases, it has been made clear that the funds are provided on condition that they are for humanitarian purposes only, and not for use with any armed groups.
7.
UNHCR recently asked the government for a further substantial contribution towards their relief work on behalf of Rhodesian refugees in Southern Africa, particularly in Botswana. During her visit to Botswana and Zambia in August, Mrs Hart undertook to con- sider what further assistance 1IMG might be able to provide for UNHCR general programme in that area. Ministers have, therefore, decided with Treasury approval, to make a further grant of £600,000 to the UNHCR. The new grant will not be specifically earmarked for use in any particular country, but it is expected that UNHCR will allocate the funds mainly for use at the new refugee camp at Dukwe.
However, we should not mention this expected alloca- tion of the funds in the presence of the Patriotic Front representatives.
Fassport policy
8. Operative paragraph 5 of United Nations Security Council Resolution No 253 of 1968:
a)
72)
'Decides that all State Members of the United Nations shall,
prevent the entry into their territories, save on exceptional humanitarian grounds, of any person travelling on a Southern Rhodesian passport, regardless of its date of issue, or on a purported passport issued by or on behalf of the illegal régime in Southern Rhodesia, and
take all possible measures to prevent the entry into their territories of persons whom they have reason to believe to be ordinarily resident in Southern Rhodesia and whom they have reason to believe to have furthered or encouraged, or to be likely to further or encourage the unlawful actions of the illegal régime in Southern Rhodesia or any activities which are calculated to evade any measure decided upon in this resolution or resolution 232 (1966) of 16 December 1966.'
CONFIDENTIAL
19.
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