TNAG-0894-FCO40-1104-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 37

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from beat people in thS ASEAN region who had resettlement guarantees but whose onward movement was not imminent.

Material assistance and financial implications

27. UNHCR has supported in a major way the boat and land cases in the countries of first asylum of South-East Asia, has provided assistance to refugees and displaced persons in Viet Nam, and is in contact with the Chinesc authorities with regard to assistance to those in China.

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The support offered in the countries of South-East Asia has covered basic food supplies, in some cases with WFP assistance, shelter including. the construction of centres, medical care, and other essential facilities. The level of assistance takes account of the special needs of the beneficiarics as well as of the conditions of the local populations. To date some US$95 million has been provided by UNHCR for this purpose and for resettlement costs, and monthly expenditures for UNHCR's programmes arc currently some US$10 million.

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The programme has ither been implemented through governmental bodies, such as the special organisation set up within the Thai Ministry of Interior, or non-governmental organisations, such as the Malaysian Red Crescent Society. Governments have made available land and varying facilities for the centres.

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Many non-governmental and voluntary organisations have provided vital direct assistance to the refugues and displaced persons in the region and have played an indispensable part in the resettlement process in receiving countries. Some Covernments have funded travel costs for resettleme: directly, but UNHCR h... provided over US 20 million for internal and international travel, the latter largely organized through the Inter-Governmental Committed for European Migration (ICEM).

31. Since the problem bugan four years ago, there has been a major increase in the UNHCR staff in the region. In addition to the material assistance programme, UNHCR is involved in the registration of cases, cryanization of interviews, processing and many other aspects of the resettlement operation, for which each family or individual has a separate file. Programme support costs have been some 6% of total expenditure.

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International financial assistance has generally not been lacking and the circle of contributing countries has widened. 17 However, the rapid influx and the unsatisfactory locations of several major centres has sometimes made swift response difficult. Given the increase in numbers, greatly increased financial support will be required by UNHCR to meet the needs of the situation. On 30 June 1979, and on the basis of the present case load and programme, the projected shortfall for 1979 was US$50 million.

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Details of contributions to UNHCR are given in Annex III.

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