The DISERO scheme is similar to the Flag State Guarantee Scheme, but applies to ships flying flags of convenience. DISERO was introduced in 1979 because ships flying flags of convenience, which comprise about 24% of world sea traffic, were unable to offer a guarantee of resettlement places to refugees. DISERO provides a pool of resettlement places which may be drawn on when required to facilitate the disembarkation and eventual resettlement of refugees rescued by such ships. Contributors to the pool of
resettlement places are Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.
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Details of ship rescues landed in Hong
In Hong Kong since 1979 are at Annex A. Since then, Hong Kong has accepted 5,467 refugees rescued by ships. All but two have either been resettled or are awaiting resettlement elsewhere.
Why RASRO was introduced
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The RASRO scheme was proposed by the. UNHCR in 1983, because regional arrival statistics then showed that the proportion of refugees rescued at sea Was declining. For example, in 1980, the percentage was 22%; it dropped to 20% In 1981; 15% in 1982; and 12% in 1983. One of the main objects of the RASRO scheme was to encourage More ships from ΠΟΤΟ
· countries to rescue more refugees.
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The UNHCR was also aware that the Flag
State Guarantee Scheme was imposing a heavy burden on countries with large merchant fleets. They were being asked to accept. the majority of ship rescue cases and, because of the random nature of rescues at sea, were forced to accept this burden with no advance warning. The UNHCR wanted to introduce an alternative scheme, which would share this burden more evenly amongst resettlement states and spread it more evenly throughout the year.
The RASRO scheme
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of
The RASRO scheme involves countries participating in it pledging a number of resettlement places. A list participating countries and the places they have pledged is at Annex B. Refugees rescued by ships at sea are resettled fron within the total number of resettlement places pledged. The UNHCR allocates refugees to the participating countries on the basis of any family, language or other relationship. It also will
ensure that 2
quota is teken Up evenly throughout the year.
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country's
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