TNAG-1277-FCO40-1627-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 143

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three million people in the North Western provinces have been affected by

drought: this has had a negative impact on the UNHCR programme, and

understandably so as priorities in the area, in terms of logistics and

transport, had to be reviewed and existing means mobilized for immediate

distribution to victims. Our objective, however, remains unchanged:

in

cooperation with the authorities and the agencies, to provide proper initial

rehabilitation to the returnees, giving them a sound basis to start a new life

in their home country.

The most globally planned, longer-term approach to refugee problems in

Africa is being developed today through the preparation of ICARA II, the

Second International Conference for Assistance to Refugees in Africa, due to

take place in Geneva from 9 to 11 July next year. The pertinent General

Assembly resolution aims both at meeting the needs of refugees and returnees

and at strengthening the social and economic infrastructure of African

countries concerned with refugee or returnee problems, to help them cope with

the burden. In our 1984 Programme to meet refugee needs, more than half of

the target submitted for Africa is for durable solutions.

are being studied, country by country.

Additional needs

In order to devise projets aimed at easing the burden on national

infrastructures, technical teams are at work: the OAU, the Office of the

United Nations Secretary-General, the United Nations Development Programme,

UNHCR and other agencies, are visiting some 15 countries. The teams are to

take all possible factors into account, such as the refugee situation, the

government policy toward refugees, the socio-economic situation, the impact of

the presence of refugees. Projects being prepared so far, extending over

three to five years, aim to be reasonable, realistic and technically sound.

Reports will be produced for each country, with the respective governments'

concurrence. UNHCR's active involvement in all preparations is guided by our

confidence that the Conference will lay a solid foundation for future

concerted action.