TNAG-1542-FCO40-2106-United-Nations-High-Commissioner-for-Refugees-(UNHCR)-Execut-1986 — Page 259

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MAGISTRY

Action Taken

CONFIDENTIAL

B

BRITISH EMBASSY

RABAT

1 September 1986

(A).

561.

Mrs J D Wyeth

Disaster and Refugee Unit Bilateral Coordination Dept

ODA

Eland House

Dear Mre Wyeth,

UNHCR:

1.

MOROCCO

(481)

M

черен

Dick Thomson of NENAD, FCO has copied to me your minute of 24 July about briefing for the UNHCR 37th Executive Committee meeting to be held in Geneva from 6 to 16 October. I am afraid that we have practically no contact with the UNHCR office in Morocco mainly because it is situated in Casablanca sixty miles away. As the object of your questionnaire is that a view, independent of UNHCR should be formed, I have answered what I can from personal knowledge, but the sum total is not very much. To find answers to all your questions would require diversion of effort which seems disproportionate to scale of UNHCR programme in Morocco.

(1) Nature of Refugees

Refugees in Morocco come from a very wide range of nationalities. They fall into two basic groups; long term, mainly European, here since the Second World War who, at the time would have been considered political; and more recent arrivals from Africa and Asia who are mainly seeking economic gain or simply an education. Most refugees have full status and travel documents although the more recent ones are awaiting acceptance and some, notably Ghanaians, having said they will move on after gaining a University degree or similar, are given only temporary status. The UNHCR consider only half a dozen or so of the

refugees to be political.

(2) Needs of Refugees

Don't know.

(3) Assistance Programmes

The assistance provided appears to be of the right type and is probably adequate. I doubt very much if any assistance given goes to other than those for whom it is intended.

(4)

Coordination/Cooperation

Don't know.

/(5)

CONFIDENTIAL