85.
The High Commissioner launched an appeal on 30 April 1982 for financial support to an expanded special programme of assistance for returnees to Ethiopia. The programme, valued at some $ 20 million included $ 6 million worth of donated food commodities as well as cash requirements of $ 14 million designed to provide limited relief and rehabilitation assistance for spontaneous returnees to Ethiopia. The programme is implemented under the joint responsibility of the Ethiopian Relief and Rehabilitation Commission and UNHCR, with the League of Red Cross Societies acting as UNHCR's operational partner. The first phase of the programme, which consisted mainly of procurement of necessary relief items including food, domestic items, medicines, dispensary equipment, seeds and fertilizers as well as essential transport vehicles, was implemented during 1982. The second and third phases will stress the rehabilitation aspects of the programme. This rehabilitation component includes the agricultural projects in Kelafo and Mustahil in Hararghe region and Aliguider in Eritrea region. Self-sufficiency packages for agriculturalists and pastoralists, small-scale cottage industries and a project for fishermen in Massawa are also foreseen. In addition, substantial progress has been made in contacts leading to an agreement between the Government of Djibouti and Ethiopia on the voluntary repatriation of refugees in Djibouti.
86.
In addition to these larger repatriation programmes, individuals seeking UNHCR assistance to facilitate their voluntary repatriation were assisted under various country programmes. In 1982, some $ 657,000 were obligated for such individual repatriation assistance.
87.
Local settlement and local integration: If voluntary repatriation of refugees is not feasible within the foreseeable future and refugees are allowed to remain in their country of asylum, all efforts are made to promote rapid local settlement and, where possible, integration of the refugees with the local population. Local settlement assistance is given both to individuals or small groups of refugees and to large groups, the latter mainly in agricultural settlements, the former in urban or semi-urban settings. The objectives of such projects will have been realized when the refugees have achieved self-sufficiency to a level comparable to that of the local population. In most instances, self-sufficiency cannot be achieved within the normal one year duration of UNHCR projects. Therefore, whenever possible, projects are planned for several years ahead, while funds are made available on an annual basis.
88.
In 1982, almost $ 66 million, or some 20% of the total General Programmes expenditure, was used to finance local settlement activities. Planning for such programmes often involved technical advice from consultant experts within the United Nations system or outside, or from UNHCR's own small cadre of specialists. In addition, the Unit further promoted local settlement efforts in various countries by holding workshops, with participants from governments and, where appropriate, non-governmental and inter-governmental agencies involved in the implementation of projects
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