TNAG-0892-FCO40-1102-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 188

E/1979/95 page 51

CHAPTER VII

FINANCING OF MATERIAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES

285. As mentioned elsewhere in this report, refugee problems, notably in Africa and Asia, have continued to grow during the period under review. The Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme, at its twenty-ninth session in October 1978, approved an increase of over $6 million in the 1978 General Programmes, raising the target to $41,750,000. 24/ Thanks to the generosity of the international community, the increased requirements for 1978 General Programmes were fully financed. Total 1978 expenditures, comprising both the General and Special Programmes, amounted to $134,681,000, an increase of 21 per cent since 1977. Special mention should be made of the non-governmental organizations whose contributions to all UNHCR activities rose from $5.5 million in 1977 to $8.8 million in 1978, an increase of 60 per cent.

286. At its twenty-ninth session the Executive Committee also approved a target for the 1979 General Programmes in an amount of $87,880,000. The increase for 1979 resulted, in large measure, from the transfer of certain activities from Special Programmes to General Programmes.

287. Since the Committee last met, however, refugee situations have continued to develop, notably in South-East Asia and also to a great extent in southern Africa and the Horn of Africa, imposing further considerable demands for funds, On 11-12 December 1978, the High Commissioner held a Consultative Meeting with Interested Governments on Refugees and Displaced Persons in South-East Asia, and on 19 January 1979 convened a meeting of Permanent Representatives in Geneva of States Members of the Executive Committee. On both these occasions, the High Commissioner stressed the need for urgent and humane solutions to the problems of refugees, adding that in view of the universality of the refugee problems such a search for solutions should be based on a wider and more equitable sharing of the burden by the international community. He also emphasized that unless UNHCR could start each year with a greater sense of financial security through firm pledges of contributions, the orderly implementation of programmes would be liable to suffer, resulting in delays which, in addition to being harmful for the refugees, could also lead to inefficiency and a lack of cost-effectiveness in the execution of UNHCR projects.

288. Governmental response to the High Commissioner's appeals has been very encouraging. However, in view of the increasing magnitude of financial requirements, estimated at the time of this report at almost $130 million for the 1979 General Programmes alone, UNHCR's financial situation has remained serious, and considerable efforts are required to ensure the funding of essential UNHCR assistance projects in 1979.

289. Table 3 of annex II shows contributions to the UNHCR General and Special Programmes for the years 1978 and 1979, which were paid or pledged as at 31 March 1979.

24/ Ibid., (A/33/12/Add.1) para. 120.