}
CHAPTER V
ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES IN ASIA
A. General developments
187. UNHCR continued throughout 1977 the implementation of several special programmes of assistance to large numbers of refugees and displaced persons in countries in Asia, undertaken at the request of the Governments concerned, pursuant to the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly. Details of these activities are given in section B below.
188. In the Lao People's Democratic Republic and in Viet Nam, where large-scale population movements had taken place, priority was given to rehabilitation projects to facilitate the settlement of those returning or having returned to their homes. In Lebanon, large-scale emergency assistance was still required, particularly in the first part of the year, and it was not until later that rehabilitation measures could be planned. In Thailand and other countries in South-East Asia, care and maintenance needs of the many thousands of Indo-Chinese displaced persons continued to call for large-scale expenditure of funds.
189. Resettlement in third countries was essential as the most suitable long-term solution for many of the displaced persons, especially those in Malaysia and Thailand and those arriving by sea in various countries of South-East Asia, on whose behalf the High Commissioner made appeals to Governments for both temporary and permanent asylum. During 1977 some 25,000 displaced persons from Indo-China were resettled in various countries, mainly in France and the United States. cumulative total of some 27,000 of these persons arrived by sea in countries in South-East Asia, the majority of whom were resettled elsewhere thanks to generous resettlement opportunities made available by 34 countries. By 31 March 1978, a total of 106,300 Indo-Chinese displaced persons in various countries still awaited permanent settlement.
A
190. UNCR's expenditures in 1977 under its Special Programme in Asia totalled nearly $18,560,000, while expenditures under the General Programmes totalled some $1,148,000. Of the latter amount, over $600,000 was expended in Malaysia to meet urgent needs of refugees living in the State of Sabah.
B. Main developments in various countries
1. Lao People's Democratic Republic
191. Continued efforts were made by UNHCR in 1977 at the request of the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to provide assistance in rehabilitating the displaced and uprooted population of the country a task which had begun in 1974. The programme involved the return to their home villages of many thousands of families by road, river or air, for which special measures were required in terms of transportation and initial installation assistance. Of some 121,000 persons who returned to their villages in 1977, some 105,000 received assistance from UNHCR.
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