REFUGEES IN NEED OF RESCUE
Since 1976, more than 550,000 Vietnamese refugees have attempted to cross the South China Sea in the hope of finding asylum in a new country. Unknown numbers have perished on the way, either drowned at sea, attacked by pirates or dying of thirst, starvation and exposure. Fewer are leaving today than before, but many continue to take the risk.
Every one of the many refugees saved at sea owes his or her life to a shipmaster who decided to stop his ship. Such shipmasters are deserving of the strongest commendations and admiration of the international community. It is, however, also sadly true that passing ships have not always heeded desperate appeals for help from refugee boats in the past, and still do not today, perhaps because of the inconvenience or cost involved. This is not acceptable. Even if the num- bers of refugee boats are fewer, the individual refugees at sea in overcrowded, often unseaworthy, little boats, face dangers every bit as great today as they have ever been in the past. I therefore appeal to shipmasters of all nationalities to continue to uphold maritime traditions and international law by going to the rescue of refugees in distress on the South China Sea.
GUIDELINES FOR THE DISEMBARKATION OF REFUGEE
Jean-Pierre Hocké
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees February 1986
Should you require further copies of this booklet, which will be sent free of charge, please write to UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva, or contact any UNUSR office.
UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
UNHCR Geneva
1986
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