TNAG-1910-FCO40-2714-Financial-assistance-from-the-UK-Government-to-Vietnamese-re-1989 — Page 134

АКВ

CONFIDENTIAL

AKB 243/14

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 2066

OF 24050OZ JUNE 89

INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA

65

044123

MDHIAN 0716

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

YOUR TELNO 223: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE

1. THE UNHCR'S VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION SCHEME WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE

FIRST INSTANCE TO COVER THE RETURN OF UP TO 500 PEOPLE. IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT THE TOTAL COSTS WOULD BE ABOUT USD 1,000 PER PERSON AND THE APPEAL FOR FUNDS WAS LAUNCHED ON THIS BASIS. 143 PEOPLE

HAVE RETURNED SO FAR AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PER CAPITA COSTS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE LOWER THAN EXPECTED. ALTHOUGH UNHCR HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE DETAILS. THE EXPENDITURE IS CONTROLLED THROUGH TWO QUITE DISTINCT BUDGETS.

(I) HONG KONG. FUNDS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO THE HONG KONG OFFICE

TO COVER AIR TRAVEL, POCKET MONEY FOR THE RETURNEES AND AMINISTRATIVE COSTS (E.G. THE COST OF MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS ETC).

(II) VIETNAM. UNHCR HAVE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MINISTRY OF INVALIDS, WAR VETERANS AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS TO COVER THE DISBURSEMENT OF REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE. IT IS THE MINISTRY, NOT UNHCR, WHICH

DECIDES ON THE LEVEL AND TYPE OF ASSISTANCE TO BE GIVEN TO EACH

RETURNEE. UNHCR PROVIDE FUNDS 3 MONTHS IN ADVANCE AND THE HANOI

OFFICE IS EXPECTED TO AUDIT THE EXPENDITURE.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO RETURNED TO AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT WERE PROVIDED WITH

ASSISTANCE RANGING FROM USD 10-30 PER MONTH UNTIL THEY WERE ABLE TO

RE-ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN EMPLOYMENT. THOSE RETURNING TO FARMING

AND FISHING COMMUNITIES WERE PROVIDED WITH DIRECT FINANCIAL

ASSISTANCE AND HELP WITH SEED, FISHING EQUIPMENT ETC. SOME OF THE ASSISTANCE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN CHANNELLED TO THE RECEIVING COMMUNITY

RATHER THAN THE INDIVIDUALS.

THE UNHCR APPROACH SEEMS TO US TO BE VERY SENSIBLE AND IT OFFERS

ARE USEFUL MODEL FOR OUR REPATRIATION PACKAGE. WE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING APPROACH.

(I) THE INITIAL BUDGET MIGHT BE BASED ON THE RETURN OF 500 OR 1000

RETURNEES. WE ESTIMATE THAT THE AIR TRAVEL ELEMENT WILL COST ABOUT

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