18.
In southeast Asia, one State confronted with substantial influxes of displaced persons has continued generously to admit large numbers of asylum-
kers, usually on a temporary basis. Throughout southern and eastern Asia, the problem of persons leaving the Indo-Chinese peninsula in small boats has persisted. As of 31 March 1978, the total number of such persons known to UNHCR was nearly 27,000, of whom some 20,000 had already been resettled or accepted for resettlement, leaving a caseload of more than 6,700. Some States concerned have been granting temporary asylum more readily in such cases, on a UNHCR undertaking to be responsible for maintenance and active promotion of the resettlement of those involved. The occasional refusal of temporary asylum
in such circumstances has often had particularly serious consequences, with, in some cases, asylum-seekers having to remain on their boats in inhuman conditions for protracted periods. In some cases, such asylum-seekers have lost their lives owing to the unseaworthiness of their vessels, after having been obliged to continue their voyage.
19. The fact that some States concerned have been unwilling to grant temporary asylum to such people has further compounded the problem, in that captains of passing ships who have come to the rescue of those in distress have had difficulty in landing them at the nearest port of call. In this respect, the High Commissioner, together with the Secretary-General of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO), made a joint appeal, through the International Chamber of Shipping, to ship-owners to issue instructions to their ship's masters enjoining scrupulous observance of the obligations of international instruments regarding rescue at sea. The High Commissioner has continued vigorously to appeal to the competent authorities, where necessary, to permit the landing of persons so rescued for temporary asylum pending their resettlement.
20. In Latin America, while in some countries significant numbers of Latin American refugees have been granted lasting asylum, in other countries they have mostly been able to find asylum only on a temporary basis. In one country, measures for the regularization of the position of aliens will result in over half of the group of Latin American refugees remaining on a durable basis, while the others will need to be resettled elsewhere. In Europe, the liberal attitude of Member States regarding persons seeking asylum was reaffirmed by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in a declaration relating to territorial asylum.
21. The role of a large number of countries, particularly in the Americas, Europe and Oceania, in generously admitting for resettlement on a durable basis refugees and displaced persons who had been granted only temporary asylum elsewhere, has continued to make a major contribution to the solution of problems of asylum. This has in many cases facilitated more liberal practice as regards temporary asylum on the part of States primarily affected.
22. It will be recalled that the United Nations Conference on Territorial Asylum, which met at Geneva from 10 January to 4 February 1977, did not complete its mandate in the time allocated and recommended that the General Assembly, at its thirty-second session, consider the question of convening at an appropriate time a further session of the Conference. The matter was duly considered by the Third Committee, the relevant report of which notes as follows:
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