136. UNHCR expended a total of some $927,000 in 1977 under its Special Programmes in Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland, including some $85,400 made available by th United Nations Trust Fund for South Africa.
137. Assistance measures under the General Programmes in these three countries included immediate relief for new refugees, supplementary aid, counselling, education and local settlement assistance.
138. A total of over $582,000, of which nearly $430,000 were allocated from the Emergency Fund, was expended by UNHCR under its General Programmes in Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland.
9. Sudan
139. With a substantial increase in 1977 in the number of Ethiopian refugees, the refugee population in the Sudan was estimated at about 150,000 by the end of the year. Other refugee groups comprised 4,500 Zairian refugees, who are now fully self-sufficient, and a number of Ugandans. Many of the Ethiopian refugees have settled spontaneously among the local population, mainly in Kassala Province, and share the health, educational and other services provided to nationals. UNHCR's assistance was to meet the needs of those living in established settlements and of new arrivals, including those who have been living at temporary sites.
140. Following the completion in 1976 of a survey by experts of potential settlement sites in Kassala Province, measures were taken by the Sudanese Government, in co-ordination with UNHCR, for the settlement in agriculture of an additional 30,000 Ethiopian refugees, many of whom had been living at the temporary site of Wad-el-Hileiwu near the border. Some were moved to the Qala-en-Nahal settlement, administered by the Government since 1975, where UNHCR gave further assistance, mainly in building schools. Some will be accommodated in various settlement sites near Um Gargur in the presidential decree area designated by the Government for refugee settlements, while others are to be settled in or near existing agricultural schemes, offering them gainful employment. UNHCR's assistance included help in making transfer arrangements, in meeting subsistence needs pending establishment, in providing means to build huts and permanent buildings, and in ensuring an adequate water supply and other amenities. The administration of the scheme was facilitated by the establishment of a UNHCR suboffice at Gedaref. Some 6,000 refugees were moved to established settlements in 1977. At the end of the year a permanent site for the settlement of a further 5,000 Ethiopian refugees was designated by the Government at Abu Raham.
141. The number of refugees in Khartoum increased substantially during the year. Many of them came from urban centres and were unsuited for inclusion in schemes for settlement in agriculture while others came to seek better employment and educational opportunities. Counselling and supplementary assistance were provided to over 7,000 of these refugees. Educational assistance was also provided, including programmes of vocational training in the Kassala Province for which UNESCO provided two experts responsible for evaluation.
142. Expenditure under UNHCR's General Programmes in the Sudan in 1977 totalled approximately $1,372,000, including $922,000 for rural settlement and $288,000
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