CANADA
Canada accepted around 16,000 refugees in 1985, at the cost of Canadian dollars 33 million. The Government quota has been increased by 1,000 places for 1986. Refugees are accepted from all over the world. In 1986 we will see a slight decrease of Indochinese refugees and an increase of East European refugees. Canada has had a carefully planned refugee programme since the late 1970's, and is grateful to UNHCR for helping to identify resettlement priorities. Canada wishes to see more burden-sharing and coordination in the task of resettlement. come to expand and improve the resettlement process. RASRO is a positive step.
UNITED STATES
The time has In this connection
Some 750,000 refugees have been resettled in the USA since 1975. In 1985 about 52,000 were Indochinese. The same number is expected in 1986. The United States considers that it has been responsive to the needs of this region: 45,500 Vietnamese have been resettled in the USA under the Orderly Departure Programme since its inception in 1979. President wishes to maintain a separate quota for ODP and has sent a message to Hanoi to make known the U.S.'s wishes to accept more Amerasians and re-education camp inmates. Iranians and Afghans- Bahai's, Jews and Christians - have also been resettled: 3,500 Iranians alone in fiscal 1985. U.S. processing of Iranians commenced in January 1983 which included all six priorities. As of October 15, 1984 this was restricted
to priorities 1-4. No change is foreseen in this policy. No Iranians are processed in Turkey. This group is handled by the INS in Rome. At present no change is foreseen in this policy either. There are no federal funds specifically available for the resettlement of handicapped refugees, those taken in are looked after by voluntary agencies or private groups/individuals. The USA considers that this group of refugees should be resettled to the greatest possible extent in countries which do not accept large numbers of refugees.
UNITED KINGDOM
The British government considers resettlement to be the least satisfactory durable solution to the refugee problem and would like to see more efforts undertaken to promote voluntary repatriation and local integration. The RASRO scheme is functioning well and the UK would welcome advice on unused places. In its "White Paper" released in September 1985, the Government indicated a slight relaxation of admission criteria with respect to refugees from S.E. Asian countries. The UK will increase its intake of refugees from Hong Kong, including Vietnamese longstaying refugees in the camps. Family reunion cases may also be increased. In 1985, 44 refugees were accepted from Hong Kong which at present is the government's greatest priority concerning resettlement.
The UK needs to know if UNHCR will fund the RASRO transit centre in Hong Kong. It urges other countries to assist in resettlement from Hong Kong.
There is no formal resettlement quota for refugees from other areas, but each case is considered on its individual merits. Applications for resettlement of disabled refugees are examined on a case by case basis
under the TOM plan.
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