Government of Ghana for all Ghanaian refugees and asylum-seekers to return home without any pre-conditions.
74.
One speaker expressed admiration for UNHCR's effective work in the countries of the Sahel. A number of speakers, including observers, took the floor to describe the refugee situation in their own countries and the refugee policies of their Governments. One speaker lauded the humanitarian solidarity of African peoples and Governments with refugees.
75.
One delegate called for increased assistance to the Sudan and pointed out that spontaneously-settled refugees in that country, whom he estimated at 50 per cent of the total case-load, did not receive UNHCR help. Another delegate announced his Government's setting up of an integrated project in East Sudan that would benefit both refugees and locals. One speaker expressed concern about the situation in southern Sudan and appealed for the unhindered passage of relief supplies to civilians there. Another welcomed the voluntary repatriation of large numbers of Ugandans in recent months. One speaker, describing the evolution of the refugee situation in Uganda, called for urgent UNHCR assistance to that country. mentioned that hospitality had been extended to asylum-seekers from southern Sudan, whom he hoped would return to their homes one day. As to the returnees, he felt that contingency planning had to be carried out in anticipation of other potential returnees.
He
76.
Two speakers welcomed the dialogue between the Governments of Ethiopia and Somalia leading to voluntary repatriation of refugees to the former country. One delegation expressed satisfaction at the agreements between UNHCR and Somalia in respect of the exchange rate and the transfer of the case-load from Tug Wajale camp to a more appropriate site. Another expressed concern regarding the repatriation programme in Djibouti and urged that those who did not wish to repatriate should not lose UNHCR assistance. Another delegate mentioned his country's proposal to hold a regional summit to find durable solutions to refugee problems in East Africa and urged the High Commissioner to take this matter up seriously and urgently.
77.
Two speakers welcomed the transfer of African emergency programmes from the Special to the General Programmes of UNHCR. One felt that the time had come to shift the emphasis of UNHCR's work in Africa from emergency relief to durable solutions. Two other speakers, however, questioned the incorporation of UNHCR's Special Programmes in Sudan into the UNHCR General Programme. One delegate welcomed the increase in the percentage of UNHCR resources devoted to Africa, but felt that more burden-sharing was necessary.
78.
The extensive discussion on the Second International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa is reported under "Refugee Aid and Development" (para. 69 above). One speaker stressed that to prevent the recurrence of the African emergency it was necessary to respond fully to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa and to implement the conclusions of the special session of the United Nations General Assembly on the economic crisis in Africa.
2.
Asia and Oceania
79.
Introducing UNHCR programmes in his area, the Head of the Bureau for Asia and Oceania focused on recent developments relating to Indo-Chinese asylum-seekers and in particular to the situation in Thailand. He reiterated the High Commissioner's
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