*
For our part, the Government have by no means forgotten the
continuing plight of the "land people".
More than 100 of them,
mostly Laotians but some Cambodians too, have been accepted from
the Thai camps for settlement in the United Kingdom.
An often overlooked aspect of the problem is the immense cost
of maintaining and caring for the refugees while they are
awaiting durable solutions to their problems. Britain is a
leading financial contributor to international refugee programmes.
During 1978, the Government pledged nearly £7M to the High
Commissioner for Refugees for various refugee programmes throughout
the world. Of this, over £2M was earmarked for his programmes
in South East Asia. Most of the High Commissioner's funds for
the South East Asia programme have been expended on Thailand
which is presently coping with a greater number of refugees
than most other countries in the region. Funds have also been
made available by the Government to British voluntary agencies
working among refugees in Thailand. The Government recognise
that many voluntary agencies, international and British, are
active in supplementing the work in Thailand of the High Commission.
This year, grants, usually up to 50% of project cost, have been
or are likely to be made for projects promoted in Thailand by
the National Council of the YMCA, the YWCA, Project Vietnam
Orphans, Save the Children Fund and the British Red Cross. Most
of these projects, the total cost of which will be in the region
of £110,000, are direct supplements to the basic help given to
refugees by the High Commissioner and they provide primary
and secondary education, vocational training and health care.
/Although
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.