TNAG-1180-FCO40-1482-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-into-the--1982 — Page 79

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6.

Afghan Refugees in Iran and Pakistan

Martin Barber reported that there were various reports from both the Pakistani and Iranian Governments about the actual numbers of Afghan refugees in their countries. There had been some initiative from the Pakistan Government to hold a conference on the situation of Afghan refugees. It was stressed that if such a conference were to be held then it should include Afghans in Iran. These refugees have not received very much publicity because of difficulties of accessibility to these groups. The Representative of UNHCR was questionned about assistance to the refugees in Iran.

UNHCR were

Mr Landau reported that there had been some missions to Iran. in the process of making plans for concrete assistance to 50,000 Afghans in ten groups of about 5,000 each. There was concern that there should be

a UNHCR presence in Iran.

Alyce Rae (FCO) confirmed that any conference on Afghan refugees, to be convened by UNHCR, would be supported by the FCO. However, it would have to be up to the Pakistani or Iranian Governments to initiate such a conference, and there may be reluctance to do this.

Barbara Bowman (QPS) pointed out that there were also Afghan refugees in India who were experiencing difficulties in finding resettlement.

It was noted that the Committee felt that should a Conference on Afghan refugees be called, it would like to recommend that the conference should definitely include Afghan refugees wherever they may be, and not peculiarly those in Pakistan.

Philip Rudge raised the matter of training awards being given to Afghan refugees in Pakistan to study in UK, as announced recently by the ODA.

Alyce Rae (FCO) confirmed that this did not include Afghan refugees in Iran because of practical operational difficulties of arranging refugee scholarships in Iran. The first academic year will be a trial, and in future years it may also be possible to ask the European Community to contribute to the programme.

The British Council had been chosen to administer the scholarships as they had had an office based in Islamabad for some time.

7.

Tamils in Sri Lanka

Malcolm Stewart who was to have spoken had been unable to attend the meeting, and there was a brief discussion of their situation. It was decided to leave full discussion until there was more information available.

8.

Tibetan Refugees

Joyce Pearce reported that the Tibetan problem still exists in its final stages. There had been discussion of ways in which the refugees could enter into dialogue with the Tibetan Government, and several missions back to Tibet had taken place. One such mission had produced a film about the situation in Tibet which could be shown to BRC members. It was agreed that this would be of interest, and a showing would be arranged.

NOTE

9.

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Any Other Business

Sir Edward Youde

It was agreed that a meeting would be arranged with BRC, Refugee Action and Ockenden to brief the Govenor and Commander-in-Chief Designate to Hong Kong. Other agencies would let BRC know if they wished to be included in such a meeting.

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