4.
There was of course room for further improvement. UNHCR would be undertaking much more training in future, both for its own staff and for some of the voluntary agencies which it used to execute its programmes. It would be analysing its case-loads in areas such as Sudan and Somalia, where, as a result of the Africa crisis, UNHCR had been obliged to respond to the emergency needs of many individuals who would not normally have been described as "persons of concern to UNHCR". The aim of this analysis, which would be conducted in liaison with other agencies, and in particular with the OEOA, was to bring more people into the remit of the General Programmes or other agencies. This was why the Africa appeal had been continued only up to the first quarter of 1986. UNHCR hoped that the analysis would enable them to recast it thereafter. Mr Lyonette acknowledged that the proportion of UNHCR's expenditure devoted to Special Programme activities had, at about 45%, been too high in recent years; UNHCR would henceforth be attempting to reduce it.
5.
Mr Lyonette also drew attention to the financial crisis facing UNHCR for the first time ever, the General Programmes would not be fully implemented this year. The level of shortfall was likely to be about US $20 million.
6. Paul Lever stressed the importance of preserving the status of refugees. The large flow of persons such as Tamils and Iranians seeking refuge in Western European countries in recent years could lead to an erosion of donor countries' commitment to the support of genuine refugees. It was vital that UNHCR should adhere firmly to its mandate; it was very much in the interests of UNHCR to show the international community that it was concerned to do so. Mr Lyonette took this point very much to heart. Paul Lever added that if UNHCR did provide relief for persons falling outside the scope of its mandate, then it should at least make it clear that it was doing so in order not to undermine its credibility.
1.
Finally, Mr Lyonette confirmed that the continuation of educational programmes in Hong Kong and the establishment of a RASRO transit facility in Hong Kong would be funded by UNHCR in 1986 (your telegram number 454 refers), probably under the General Programmes.
yowas www. Richard.
R J Wildash
United Nations Department
CC: Ms OR Walker, HKD
Mrs J Wyeth, BCD, ODA
Miss J Attwood, UKMis New York R Embleton Esq, Washington
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