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CHAPTER VI
ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES IN EUROPE
Assistance in various countries
224. There were considerable influxes of refugees into several countries in Europe in 1977. However, taking into account departures for resettlement overseas as well as naturalizations and natural decrease, the over-all total of refugees in Europe remained at some 546,000 at the end of 1977.
225. Countries in Europe continued to play a significant role in the task of assisting refugees, both in terms of financial contributions to UNHCR programmes and in providing resettlement opportunities for refugees, notwithstanding economic difficulties and continuing high levels of unemployment in many countries.
226. As in past years, UNHCR's assistance to refugees in Europe was of a marginal nature since these refugees benefited fully from social security facilities provided by Governments in the various countries of asylum. Valuable complementary assistance was also provided by the well-established non-governmental organizations, which played an important part in facilitating the integration of refugees within their host communities.
227. The influx of both European and non-European refugees and displaced persons into countries in Europe increased during 1977. On the one hand, European refugees continued to seek and receive asylum in various countries, while at the same time further numbers of non-European refugees, mainly from Indo-China and Latin America, and also from Africa, were accepted for permanent settlement by many countries. Indo-Chinese displaced persons constituted the largest group settling in Europe in 1977. France continued to admit approximately 1,000 Indo-Chinese monthly, making an over-all total of 40,000 admitted by the end of 1977, while many other countries also carried out schemes for the settlement of these persons. Nearly 1,000 refugees from Latin America were admitted for permanent settlement in Europe in 1977, mainly in Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In view of the particular needs of these groups of refugees, their admission was accompanied by special measures to facilitate their integration including arrangements for reception as well as facilities in respect of accommodation, employment, vocational training and language courses.
228. Several European countries continued to provide transit facilities for groups of refugees and individuals seeking permanent settlement overseas. Arrangements for these movements were made in close co-operation with UNHCR, especially as regards medical examinations and documentation.
229. Special emphasis was again placed on providing adequate counselling services to refugees, particularly those of non-European origin, to ensure that they received. qualified advice and guidance. This type of assistance constituted an important element of UNHCR's assistance programmes in Europe. Aged and sick refugees, mainly in Greece, Italy, Spain and Turkey, who have suffered most severely from the rising cost of living continued to receive special assistance, largely in the form of annuities.
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