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UNHCR had recently sent an expert in electronic data processing to South-East Asia to assess problems of documentation with a view to computerizing caseload data.
GENERAL COMMENTS
8. Mr. A. Wenstrom (Sweden) expressed his Government's appreciation to UNHCR for calling the technical meeting. It seemed that some problems experienced in the resettlement programme were common to several governments. Consequently, meetings focusing on specific aspects of resettlement and integration could be valuable. The scope of such meetings could be broadened to include resettlement programmes other than the Indo-Chinese, with the aim of making the common effort as successful as possible.
9. Mr. de Haan (Deputy High Commissioner) said UNHCR would pursue this suggestion.
REPORT ON UNHA MISSION N
10. Miss H. Brissimi (Chief, Counselling, Education and Resettlement Section, UNHCR) commented on the mission which she and Mr. J. Cuénod, Deputy Director of Assistance, had made to countries of first asylum in South-East Asia in July/August. The authorities in these countries of first asylum had exhibited great concern about the "selectivity" of countries of resettlement. The mission had been able to apprise those concerned of special efforts being made to ensure that vulnerable groups were not overlooked in the resettlement programme. However, the UNHCR wished to appeal to governments to continue to bear in mind the needs of vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied minors, the handicapped, as well as of those who were the less skilled and more advanced in age; finally those who had been longest in the camps deserved consideration by priority.
RESETTLEMENT
11.
Criteria and Quotas
(i) Mr. D. Hill (Canada) reported that Canada expected to have admitted, by the end of 1979; 20,000 refugees against the figure of 50,000 offered in July leaving 30,000 to arrive during the course of 1980. The aim was to move 3,000 people per month, although the figure would be higher in the next 2-3 months in order to respond to the unprecedented public interest in the sponsorship programme. Canada took a broad view of family links in refugee admissions. Special programmes were being elaborated with the provincial governments for acceptance of adolescents. The Province of Ontario was preparing to receive 200 teenagers over the coming year. (ii) Mr. E. Urmoneit (Federal Republic of Germany) said his Government tried to ensure that a representative cross-section of the community amongst refugee groups was accepted, and expressed the hope that this principle would be adopted also by other governments.
(iii)Mr. Björn Ekblom (Finland) reported that Finland had already accepted 100 refugees, in accordance with its undertaking in July, following a selection team's mission to Malaysia. Family reunion requests were now being studied.
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