TNAG-0898-FCO40-1108-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 156

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In some

Language training is also provided as far as possible. countries (e.g. Thailand) the displaced persons themselves and other volunteers connected with social agencies teach English and French in the camps. In other countries language courses are offered by specialized institutes. The Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) operates language training programmes in several European countries and in the Middle East. UNHCR has been contributing financially to these programmes since 1966.

At times, refugees awaiting resettlement are taught vocational skills to help them qualify for employment in their country of immigration more promptly.

E.

Travel arrangements

When the decision to admit an individual or group of refugees is communicated to UNHCR by the authorities of the country of resettlement, arrangements for travel including travel documents and funds for trans- portation must follow.

UNHCR in collaboration with the countries of temporary asylum, or those of resettlement, ensures that travel documents, on which the country

In certain in- of admission can affix a visa, are issued, if required. stances the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is requested to provide its documents for travel.

Covering transportation fees can be effected in a variety of ways if the applicant cannot pay his own travel. Some governments operate

"assisted passage" schemes, which usually provide travel loans but some- times also travel grants. UNHCR also finances transportation at times on a loan basis, if the country of resettlement does not dispose of funds for this purpose and if the Revolving Travel Funds operated by ICEM and the These loans are voluntary agencies cannot cover the cases in question. interest-free and are reimbursable in several instalments after the refugee settles in his country of immigration and is gainfully employed. Ability to repay is always judged on a humanitarian basis by taking into account

Reimbursement pro- the individual's earnings and his family obligations.

vides refugees with opportunities to progress towards self-reliance. Funds collected increase UNHCR capacity to assist other needy persons to

UNHCR has cover their transportation to a country of resettlement. frequently used the ICEM and voluntary agencies' machinery in providing and collecting travel loans.

Actual arrangements for transportation and bookings are frequently made by ICEM, and several agreements to that effect have been signed between ICEM and UNHCR.

F.

Integration

Acquisition of citizenship according to the legal requirements in each country of resettlement is part of the refugee integration goal. Such integration can be an arduous process and some refugees may never manage to attain that goal. Problems of that nature, however, should not be viewed as a reason to restrict refugee admissions, since maladjustment is a phenomenon observed also among nationals.

When refugees arrive in the country of resettlement, government services and voluntary agencies provide them with advice and assistance to

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