Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

A/5211/Rev.1

United Nations General Assembly Official Records: Seventeenth Session

Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Supplement No.11 (A/5211/Rev.1)

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1. By resolution 1673 (XVI), of 18 December 1961, the General Assembly, among other things, requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to pursue his activities on behalf of the refugees within his mandate or those for whom he extended his good offices.

2. In this report to the General Assembly, the High Commissioner has tried to indicate the results secured in the various fields of his activity, to outline the refugee problems still confronting his Office and to submit to the Assembly, for its assessment, the methods of work and the guidelines which he feels he should follow in carrying out his humanitarian task.

3. During the period under review (1 April 1961-31 March 1962¹), the Office of the High Commissioner has, in pursuance of its international protection functions, continued its effort to improve the position and the legal status of the more than 1,300,000 refugees within its mandate. Through its regular assistance programmes, it has also given attention to the finding of permanent solutions for the problems of the non-settled "old" refugees, i.e., those who were within its mandate on 31 December 1960. So far as the new groups of refugees are concerned, the joint operation of the Office of the High Commissioner and the League of Red Cross Societies on behalf of refugees from Algeria in Morocco and Tunisia has been continued. The High Commissioner has also extended his good offices for assistance to other groups of refugees in accordance with the various relevant resolutions of the General Assembly.²

4. There were two striking features of the period covered by this report: first, the problem of the non-settled "old" refugees, with which the international community has had to deal since the end of the Second World War, was reduced to proportions which made it possible to draw up a final plan for its solution; secondly, the Office of the High Commissioner had to face serious new problems resulting from the presence in Africa of some 300,000 new refugees requiring emergency assistance.

5. As is pointed out in greater detail in chapter III, solutions have been found for an increased number of non-settled refugees, and it has proved possible to compile more precise data concerning the approximately 35,000 non-settled refugees who were still in need of assistance on 1 January 1962. While their number is very small in comparison with the original figure of 270,000, it must be emphasized that a majority of the remaining refugees are physically or socially handicapped. Only an intensive, continuing operation by the Office of the High Commissioner, coupled with efforts by members of the international community, will make it possible to solve the problems of these refugees so that the old and infirm can live a decent and peaceful life, the sick can be given the care and treatment they require and those suffering from other handicaps can resume a normal existence. Those are the objectives of the final aid programme for 1963, totalling $5,400,000, which the High Commissioner submitted to the Executive Committee. At its seventh session, held in May 1962, the Committee approved this programme in the terms described in the report on that session, which is appended to the present report.

6. Apart from this final effort demanded of the international community in order to bring the major aid programmes for the "old" refugees to a close, the Office of the High Commissioner had to be equipped to meet the most urgent and pressing needs of the new refugees as and when those needs arose, lest a new distressing accumulation of hardships should ultimately create almost unmanageable problems. That is the purpose of the current programme for complementary assistance, which the Executive Committee also approved in principle at its seventh session and to which, for 1963, the sum of $1,400,000 was allocated.

7. As to the long-standing refugee problems, experience has shown, on the one hand, that only a modest amount of assistance is usually needed to restore the courage of refugees, even if they are seriously handicapped, and to overcome difficulties which had been preventing their integration; and that, on the other hand, such assistance, however limited, is indispensable in stimulating international protection, which it often facilitates. For example, older refugees who had had professional careers and had not been able to find employment in keeping with their abilities have, with the help of temporary grants, been reintegrated into the economy and now enjoy the benefits of the social legislation applicable to employees. This example, among others, shows the part that can be played by international assistance when it serves to release, as by a kind of chain reaction, various forms of aid provided for by the domestic legislation of countries of residence.

8. As may be seen from chapter IV, the essential task of the High Commissioner with respect to new groups of refugees is to draw the attention of the international community to their existence and their problems, and to stimulate and co-ordinate the measures required for the earliest and most appropriate solution of those problems.

9. In the case of the Algerian refugees who are now in Morocco and Tunisia, the High Commissioner, having accepted the task entrusted to him by the signatories of the Evian Agreements of 18 March 1962, is taking part in the work of the Tripartite Repatriation Commission. As at 20 May 1962, the refugees had already begun to leave Morocco to return home, and their departure from Tunisia was imminent. If the planned rate of repatriation is maintained, a permanent solution of the most satisfactory kind will have been found for a problem which, for a number of years, has been a source of serious concern.

10. The High Commissioner had occasion to present to the Third Committee, in November 1961, the main aspects of the situation created by the afflux of some 150,000 refugees from Angola to the Congo and by the presence of approximately 6,000 refugees in Togo. Since then, he has to deal with another problem in Africa - that of the approximately 140,000 refugees from Rwanda. In all three cases it has been possible, by immediate and suitable action, to meet the urgent needs of the refugees and, at the same time, to encourage the steps required for the speedy implementation of constructive solutions likely to lead to a final settlement of these problems. Both in the general interests of the host country and of the local population, and in order to enable the refugees themselves to protect their physical and moral health, efforts have been directed at helping the refugees to become self-supporting as quickly as possible.

11. Whenever Governments have turned to the High Commissioner for help of this kind, he has first investigated the problems created by such new groups of refugees; he has then brought them to the attention of the international community, and directed his efforts towards marshalling al possible assistance in order to provide the necessary remedies without delay. Thus, through the co-ordinated efforts of the Government, ONUC, a number of specialized agencies and other United Nations services, as well as of the League of Red Cross Societies and voluntary agencies, most of the Angolan refugees were soon able to find a place in agriculture in the Congo. A similar combined operation was undertaken for the benefit of the refugees given asylum in Togo and of the refugees from Rwanda, on the principle that emergency measures should be of a marginal and temporary nature and that the refugees should be helped to become self-supporting pending their return to their own country, in the event of their wishing, and circumstances permitting them, to return.

12. As regards assistance both to" old" refugees and to the new groups of refugees outside Europe, it must be emphasized that henceforth activities will be of a marginal and subsidiary character, whether they are designed to supplement and support international protection or are undertaken as part of the good offices which the General Assembly has asked the High Commissioner to extend to Governments confronted by a new refugee problem. In setting the financial target, of the current programme for complementary assistance at $1,400,000 ($700,000 for assistance to the new groups of refugees), the Executive Committee endorsed the proposals of the High Commissioner and registered its approval of a policy of limiting to what is strictly necessary the financial assistance now being demanded of the international community.

13. Close budgeting of this kind would obviously not make it possible for the Office of the High Commissioner to cope with large-scale unexpected situations. If, therefore, problems of a magnitude exceeding the capacity of this budget should arise, it would be for the international community to decide on the possibility of more substantial assistance, if it considered such assistance necessary.

14. It is clear from the foregoing that the Office of the High Commissioner is now passing through a particularly significant phase of its existence - a phase during which it has had to re-examine its methods of work at a juncture when events have caused it to direct its activities towards new geographical areas. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the time is not far off when refugee problems in Europe will not require more than a modicum of international assistance, This assistance should suffice for an effective solution of the residual and day-to-day problems, thereby precluding an accumulation of those problems such as might necessitate a new substantial effort on the part of the international community. It will also help to keep alive the spirit of international solidarity, thanks to which the refugee problems with which the Office has had to deal during the last ten years have found a happy issue.

CHAPTER I INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION

15. During the period under review, the impetus of World Refugee Year was increasingly felt in the field of international protection - the basic task of the Office of the High Commissioner, which consists in safeguarding the rights of refugees and seeking to improve their legal position, in order that their status may be assimilated as closely as possible to that of the nationals of their country of residence. The humanitarian spirit fostered by World Refugee Year is reflected in the increasing number of accessions to legal instruments affecting the status of refugees and the legal measures adopted by Governments in favour of refugees, as reported in more detail in annex II.

16. Among the main developments which have taken place, mention should be made of three further important ratifications to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees; those of Argentina, Colombia and Turkey. The question of accession is under consideration in a number of other countries. A great proportion of the States in which refugees at present reside have now joined the group of countries which, as parties to the 1951 Convention, have undertaken to grant a minimum legal status to refugees falling under the terms of that instrument. Thirty-four States have now ratified or acceded to the Convention or made a formal declaration to the Secretary-General that they consider themselves bound by it. Furthermore, several countries which have recently acquired independence and which formerly came under the legal system of Governments who had ratified the Convention, may also be considered parties to this instrument.

17. UNHCR is actively co-operating with the Governments and administrative authorities of some fifty countries of residence of refugees and has assisted Governments which have recently become parties to the Convention in working out administrative arrangements for the implementation of its provisions. The Office has also continued to co-operate with governmental authorities in determining the eligibility of refugees, which is of great importance with regard to the granting of asylum, the according of benefits provided for under the 1951 Convention, and the admission of refugees under the immigration legislation of certain countries.

18. In many countries, legislation and legal regulations are being developed which guarantee a legal status to refugees. Governments of other countries, including those which have recently acquired independence, now also turn their attention to the problem of the status of refugees in their territory. Upon their request the High Commissioner is giving them advice concerning suitable legal and administrative arrangements.

19. The Office of the High Commissioner followed with interest the Conference which adopted, in August 1961, the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. This Convention, once in force, will be of importance to a certain number of refugees in that it will enable their children, who would otherwise be stateless, to acquire a nationality at birth, and thus militate against refugee status being continued in a later generation.

20. Another international instrument which is of great significance for refugees is the draft Declaration on the Right of Asylum, the consideration of which will be given priority by the General Assembly at its seventeenth session. The office of the High Commissioner is closely co-operating with various Governments and with the Secretariat of the United Nations in New York with regard to the terms of the Declaration.

21. The solution of a problem which affects only a limited number of refugees but is for them of great importance - that of refugee seamen - made significant progress during 1961. The eight ratification, required for the coming into force of the 1957 Agreement relating to Refugee Seamen, was made in the course of the year and the Agreement went into effect on 27 December 1961. Its object is to provide refugee seamen, many of whom would otherwise have no alternative but to stay on their ships the possibility of acquiring permanent residence on a country with which they have certain links. The Office of the High Commissioner is promoting further accessions to the Agreement. In order to assist refugee seamen in regularizing their legal position, the ILO, at the request of UNHCR, has made arrangements to inform these refugees of the benefits to which they are entitled under the terms of the Agreement.

22. The position of refugees has also been improved on a national level in various countries, particularly with regard to their access to employment and facilitation of travel, which are both important in view of the increasing need for mobility of manpower in today's world. Particular attention was given to the right of refugee doctors and dentists to exercise their profession in their country of residence; a recommendation to this effect was adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the matter is receiving consideration in various countries. The movement of refugees has been further facilitated in several countries through the issue of the document provided by the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees and by measures for waiving the requirement of visas.

23. Special mention should be made of the action taken by UNHCR under the terms of the Agreement of 5 October 1960 concluded between the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and UNHCR for the indemnification of refugees who had been persecuted by reason of their nationality. The dateline by which applications could be submitted to UNHCR for consideration was fixed at 31 March 1962. By that date a total of some 40,000 applications had been received from persons living in over forty different countries. These applications have to be carefully screened, bearing in mind the urgency of making rapid payments to old and sick persons. By 31 March of this year, decisions in respect of 1,500 initial payments for a total amount of $256,375 had been made from the Fund of $11,250,000 (DM 45 million) provided by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for this purpose. As described in annex II, a system of initial payments has been devised; subsequent payments are to be made when the number of justified claims has been determined and the amount of indemnification to be paid to each beneficiary can be assessed.

24. Reference should also be made t the programme for legal assistance carried on by UNHCR in various countries. Under this programme, which is complementary to international protection, refugees may receive legal advice and legal aid for representation in court, or legal assistance in administrative proceedings in those cases where they cannot afford the cost themselves, and where no free legal aid is available. This form of assistance is particularly important in that it often enables the refugee to consolidate his economic and social position and to become firmly established in his country of residence.

25. UNHCR has continued to pay attention to the question of naturalization of refugees. Whereas general improvements in the status of refugees cannot often be translated into figures, it may be stated from the statistical data available that over 20,000 refugees within the mandate of UNHCR in Europe were naturalized during 1961. As will be seen from annex I, the number of refugees in Europe, which was 850,000 at the beginning of 1961, decreased to 820,000 at the beginning of 1962, as a result of naturalization, repatriation and resettlement in overseas countries.

26. Considerable efforts have been made during the period under review to enable as many as possible of these refugees to benefit from the provisions of intra-European legal instruments promoting economic integration and the free movement of persons. A special resolution was adopted in September 1961 by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe to further this objective. Close co-operation is maintained between UNHCR and the regional organizations concerned with a view to securing for refugees within its mandate and regularly residing in the territory of the member countries of these organizations the benefit of the provisions applicable in each of these countries to the nationals of other member countries.

27. In addition to the above-mentioned concrete developments, the High Commissioner would like to emphasize the importance of the day-to-day protection activities of his Office, which consist to a large extent in following the situation of refugees and in seeing that their interests are safeguarded and their difficulties overcome on the international and national plane. Through its contact with the authorities of some fifty countries where refugees within the mandate of UNHCR have been generously admitted, the Office of the High Commissioner constantly seeks to help refugees in overcoming legal disabilities arising from their refugee status. These activities, unspectacular though they are, currently help the refugees to solve their special problems in the field of protection.

28. By its very nature, international protection is a continuous function and although many results have been achieved much remains to be done in various fields and in many countries to safeguard their rights and legitimate interests, to see that their status approximates as closely as possible to that of the nationals of the country in which they are granted asylum, and finally to enable them to cease to be refugees either by voluntary repatriation or by complete legal integration in their country of asylum by means of naturalization.

CHAPTER II VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION AND RESETTLEMENT

Voluntary repatriation

29. During the period under review, voluntary repatriation, like resettlement and local integration, has continued to constitute a permanent solution for some of the "old" refugees, while it was also open to persons belonging to the new groups of refugees which are dealt with in chapter IV of this report.

30. The High Commissioner has facilitated the voluntary repatriation of refugees pursuant to the terms of the Statute and of resolution 925(X) of the General Assembly. According to statistical data available to this Office, over 1,500 refugees returned to their country of origin during 1961, as shown in more detail in annex I. UNHCR has continued to contribute towards the cost of repatriation in those cases where these costs could not be covered by the country of origin, by the country of residence or by the refugee himself. During 1961, eighty-four refugees were in this way assisted in returning to their homes.

31. Upon invitation of the parties to the Evian Agreements of 18 March 1962 on the future status of Algeria and in accordance with the request of the General Assembly in resolution 1672 (XVI) that the High Commissioner should use the means at his disposal to assist in the return of the refugees, UNHCR has accepted membership in the Repatriation Commission established to facilitate the speedy return of the Algerian refugees who have been living in Morocco and Tunisia. It is hoped that the repatriation of these refugees may be completed by the end of June 1962.

32. Repatriation facilities have also been extended to refugees from Angola in the Congo. However, as at 1 April 1962, no significant repatriation movement could be reported.

Resettlement

33. The Office of the High Commissioner has continued to promote the resettlement of refugees in close co-operation with ICEM, with Governments and with non-governmental organizations concerned with the migration of refugees.

34. The favourable impact of World Refugee Year continued to make itself felt in the resettlement of refugees overseas and in Europe during 1961. Special schemes for the admission of handicapped refugees under liberalized criteria which had been started during World Refugee Year continued to be implemented by the Governments of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, while the Government of the United States under Public Law 86-648 continued to admit refugees under the High Commissioner's mandate, including 500 cases belonging to the handicapped categories.

35. The European countries of immigration have continued to make a major contribution to the solution of refugee problems by admitting certain numbers of refugees irrespective of their age or state of health. Particular mention should be made of the action taken by the Government of Belgium which agreed at the beginning of this year to accept 400 refugees from Yugoslavia, including a certain proportion of aged and physically handicapped, thus making possible the closure of Gerovo Camp. Their movement was completed by January 1962. France has agreed to accept some eighty refugees from Italy for settlement under the "Open Villages Scheme" whereby refugees move into abandoned villages where they establish a new community . The Governments of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, which continue to admit handicapped refugees, have sent or plan to send selection missions to Greece, Italy, Turkey and to a few countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

36. A total number of over 14,000 refugees were resettled during 1961 under the auspices of UNHCR and transported by ICEM. Of this number, 12,500 migrated to overseas countries of immigration and 1,600 to European countries as shown in more detail in annex III. The total of 14,000 comprises 3,347 refugees, mostly handicapped, and their dependants, whose resettlement was financed or co-financed by UNHCR within the framework of the UNHCR regular programmes. This number includes 2,204 refugees of European origin resettled from the Far East under the joint operation of ICEM and UNHCR.

37. Although some of the non-handicapped, non-settled refugees are at present benefiting from the favourable economic conditions in certain European countries, and some of the handicapped refugees are too severely handicapped to be able to avail themselves of immigration opportunities, resettlement remains the most important solution to the problems of refugees, as evidenced by the fact that resettlement alone made it possible for the number of refugees to be reduced in several countries, in spite of the influx of new arrivals. Furthermore, resettlement opportunities will also be required for a certain number of refugees of European origin in a few countries in North Africa and in the Middle East whose problems are unlikely to be solved through local integration.

38. During the period under review, special efforts continued to be made by the Office of the High Commissioner with a view to facilitating the emigration of those handicapped refugees who had as yet been unable to avail themselves of resettlement opportunities. In Italy a special survey of severely handicapped refugees was undertaken by a medical expert specialized in the selection of immigrants, whose services were made available by the Australian Government. As a result of this survey an increasing number of handicapped cases could be successfully presented to the missions of immigration countries. A similar scheme is being carried out in Austria and plans are being considered for surveys of the same type to be put into effect in a few other countries.

39. According to registrations carried out by UNHCR and ICEM in various countries, 15,500 of the remaining non-settled refugees living in several countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, as well as in the Far East, wish to be resettled in other countries. In some countries registration has not been completed and it is estimated that this figure may rise by some 5,000. These figures include an estimated 8,000 physically or socially handicapped refugees. The finding of resettlement opportunities for many of these refugees is likely to be a difficult, expensive and lengthy task. If their problems are to be solved, a continuous effort will have to be maintained by UNHCR in co-operation with the Governments of immigration countries which have hitherto been so generous in admitting the handicapped refugee. Further resettlement opportunities will also be required in order rapidly to find permanent solutions to the problems of the limited number of new arrivals in several countries of asylum in Europe, and to avoid the accumulation of a new backlog of non-settled refugees.

40. The Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme has given the closest attention to the question of resettlement and at its fifth session the Committee endorsed suggestions to the effect that; (a) Governments might wish to consider the possibilities of simplifying further the requisite emigration/immigration procedures and also of waiving the costs incurred for various types of documentation; (b) Governments might review further the extent to which they could contribute towards the transportation costs of refugees whose admission is approved; (c) Governments might like to indicate that they would be receptive to requests to study the possibilities of resolving the problem of small concentrated groups of non-settled mandate refugees residing in countries of first asylum not normally included in resettlement schemes.

CHAPTER III UNHCR REGULAR ANNUAL PROGRAMMES

Introduction

41. The UNHCR regular programmes, it will be recalled, were put into effect in 1959 following the four-year programme of the United Nations Refugee Fund (UNREF) in order to continue to provide permanent solutions for those refugees within the mandate of UNHCR who could not become firmly settled without international assistance. In accordance with the directives of the Executive Committee, priority was given throughout to the clearance of refugee camps and to the resettlement in other countries of refugees of European origin living in the Far East.

42. At the beginning of 1955, the number of non-settled refugees amounted to 270,000, including 75,000 in camps in Austria, Germany, Greece and Italy, and approximately 16,000 in the Far East. During the seven years which elapsed between 1 January 1955 and 31 December 1961, the total number decreased to some 65,000 in spite of a new influx of nearly 200,000 refugees in Europe in 1956-1957 and of a limited but steady number of new arrivals throughout the period. The camp population decreased to 8,550 and the number of refugees in the Far East to 4,200.

43. These results are largely due to the humanitarian spirit in which the Governments of countries of asylum and of immigration countries, as well as other members of the international community, joined their efforts and generously contributed towards permanent solutions for the refugees concerned. Thus, the amount of $82,900,000 representing the total value of projects authorized for implementation under the UNREF programme and the subsequent UNHCR regular programmes as at 31 December 1961, includes voluntary contributions in an amount of $35,702,000 from governmental and other sources and supporting contributions in an amount of $47,200,000 from within the countries where the projects were put in to effect. in addition, nearly $4,600,000 had been made available to UNHCR for permanent solutions projects for Hungarian refugees. Their problem was almost completely solved as at 31 December 1961.

General observations

44. The main features of the period under review (1 April-31 March 1962) are the progress achieved in the clearing of refugee camps and in reducing to manageable proportions the problems of non-settle refugees outside camps.

45. The camp clearance scheme, the financing of which was completed by the end of 1960 as a result of World Refugee Year, was maintained at its full momentum during 1961 when a further 6,650 refugees were able to leave camps. With regard to other non-settled refugees, including refugees of European origin in the Far East, various projects included in the 1961 programme were put into effect and the $5 million programme adopted for 1962 was started.

46. The total number of refugees assisted as at 31 December 1961 in over forty-five countries under the UNREF programme and regular UNHCR programmes amounted to 103,735, of whom 58,306 were firmly settled (for further details see annex VI). During 1961 solutions were found for the problems of 22,230 refugees, which represents an increase of 100 per cent over the corresponding figure for the year 1960. Of this number 12,155 became firmly settled.

47. From the numerical point of view alone, the results achieved during 1961 are considerably greater than during preceding years. This is due to the fact that full benefit could be reaped from the special financial contributions made on the occasion of World Refugee Year. At the same time, many refugees became aware of the new opportunities extended to them and were encouraged to take a more active part in their own settlement. As explained in detail in chapter II under " Resettlement", the extension of visits by selection missions to various areas not previously covered by them constituted an added factor of encouragement for the refugees.

48. The favourable economic conditions prevailing in the countries of residence of refugees have again contributed to the spontaneous integration of a considerable proportion of the caseload, particularly in countries such as France and Germany which have a large number of non-handicapped refugees and where the demand for manpower is high. This development, however, does not apply to other countries with a less favourable economic and demographic situation or to countries where social legislation is still in the course of development. Furthermore, the increasing cost of living entails a corresponding increase in the cost of projects which is not offset by the small reduction in the number of beneficiaries.

49. In the course of the period under review, the same types of projects were put into effect as in previous years, i.e., mainly housing, counselling and, for the handicapped refugees, rehabilitation, vocational training and to a more limited extent the establishment of protected communities and protected workshops and the provision of "housing with care". The proportion of handicapped refugees, which had been increasing ever since the implementation of the programmes, is now reaching 50 per cent or more of the caseload of non-settled refugees in certain countries. Consequently, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find appropriate solutions for the remaining caseload, particularly for the non-settled refugees outside camps, and the full co-operation of the Governments and voluntary agencies concerned will continue to be necessary in order to solve the problems of these refugees.

50. It may be expected that of the total estimated number of 65.000 non-settled refugees on 31 December 1961, over 30,000 will benefit under existing programmes, leaving some 35,000 non-settled refugees at the beginning of 1962. On the assumption that under present economic conditions up to 20,000 might be able to establish themselves without international assistance, some 15,000 refugees, the majority handicapped in varying degrees, will be dependent on assistance from the international community for their local integration or resettlement in other countries. A breakdown of non-settled refugees in certain countries is given in annex IV.

51. Taking into account the views expressed by the General Assembly in its resolution 1673 (XVI) in respect of the completion in the near future of major aid programmes for "old" refugees in Europe, the High Commissioner has submitted to the Executive Committee of his Programme, at its seventh session, a final Major Aid Programme for "old" refugees in an amount of $5,400,000 which is to be started in 1963, It is intended that this programme should be put into effect as rapidly as possible within the next two to three years, in order that the refugee problems outstanding from the Second world War should in this way be definitely solved.

52. There will remain the more long-term problem of their legal integration which should be solved within the framework of international protection activities outlined in chapter I of this report. In addition, there are the problems of refugees who have arrived after 31 December 1960 and of those who, on account of their state of health or through a change in their economic and social condition, would fall back into misery unless they received some international assistance. These refugees can be assisted through the promotion of emigration or through local integration at a modest cost, provided that their problems are dealt with as and when they arise. With this end in view, the High Commissioner has suggested to the Executive Committee of his Programme, at its seventh session, that these refugees be included among the beneficiaries of the Current Programme for Complementary Assistance, referred to in the general introduction to this report.

53. The recommendations adopted by the Executive Committee in respect of both the last Major Aid Programme and the Current Programme for Complementary Assistance may be found in the report on the Committee's seventh session which appears in the appendix to the present report.

Camp clearance

54. The programme for the clearance of camps in Austria, Germany, Greece and Italy has been continued according to schedule during the period under review. Of the 6,650 refugees who left the camps in 1961, largely as a result of UNHCR programmes, 5,153 refugees were firmly settled as compared with 4,708 during 1960, and by 31 December 1961 the total number of refugees living in camps, including non-federal in Austria, had decreased to 8,550 and the number of camps to 131, as shown below;

	1 January 1961		31 December 1961
Country	Refugees	(Camps)	Refugees	(Camps)
Austria	4,700	(159) a	2,284	(90)57b
Federal Republic of Germany	8,000	(44)	4,743	(38)
Greece	420	(4)	213	(2)
Italy	2,080	(5)	1,311	(1)
Total	15,200	(212)	8,550	(131)

a Including 121 non-federal camps.

b Including 60 non-federal camps.

55. While the number of camps in Austria is relatively high, in most of these camps there remain only a few refugees coming within the mandate of UNHCR.

56. As in the previous year, considerable difficulty had to be overcome in implementing solutions for the high proportion of handicapped cases and in particular special cases, i.e., those refugees who require special assistance under the supervision of the UNHCR Mental Health Adviser. Through the active co-operation of the local authorities and the imaginative efforts and perseverance of the experts and case-workers concerned, the situation of these refugees has considerably improved from both the health and the economic and social points of view. An increasing number are benefiting from special projects for housing with care, rehabilitation and vocational training. Further projects have been planned for protected workshops where the refugees are given an opportunity to learn a trade while doing productive work and becoming partially independent. Furthermore, the results of the medical care bear out that a high proportion of these refugees had become mentally handicapped on account of their lengthy stay in camps and could be rapidly cured, provided they were given proper treatment and he prospect of resuming a normal existence. Thus, during the period 1 January-31 December 1961, out of a total of some 1,700 special cases, mostly from camps, 412 had been cured and firmly settled, 357 were under observation and 943 were still under treatment as at 31 December 1961.

57. Special mention should be made of the general trend among the refugees to take an increasingly active part in their own settlement. Stimulated by the large scale departure from camps and by the prospect of at last resuming a normal existence, many of the refugees have overcome their apathy and are facilitating the task of international assistance.

58. As previously, the rising price of land, the increased building costs and the lack of housing, particularly in Austria and Germany. This is all the more important since housing constitutes the major part of the projects for camp clearance. In Austria, where almost 3,000 housing units have already been provided for the refugee camp population, a further 360 will be necessary to complete the programme. In Germany, a further 1,000 units are needed in addition to the 2,350 units which have already been made available. The corresponding rent increase in housing completed in Germany before 1 January 1962 is offset by the inclusion of refugees in the general rent subsidy scheme.

59. Taking into account the above-mentioned factors, camp clearance may nevertheless be completed in Greece in the course of 1962, in Italy towards the end of this year, in Austria at the beginning of 1963 and in Germany, which has the largest camp population, towards the end of 1963.

60. The general rise in costs in the four countries concerned means that the amount of funds available for camp clearance when it was planned in 1959 will no longer be adequate unless the task is completed as rapidly as possible. The utmost vigilance and perseverance on the part of this Office and of the governmental authorities and voluntary agencies concerned will therefore continue to be needed in order to bring camp clearance to a successful conclusion with the funds available.

Far Eastern Programme

61. In accordance with the view expressed by the Executive Committee at its fifth session, highest priority was given as before to the joint programme of UNHCR and ICEM for the resettlement via Hong Kong of refugees of European origin from the Far East. During 1961, a total of 2,204 refugees (i.e., more than twice as many as in 1960), including 318 cases needing permanent care in institutions, were resettled from the mainland of China via Hong Kong in countries of immigration, the majority in Australia.

62. As at 31 December 1961 there were 320 refugees in transit in Hong Kong, while there remained some 3850 refugees on the mainland, 1,405 of whom still required destination visas. By 1 April 1962, a further 303 refugees had been moved, leaving 3,692 on the mainland and 176 in transit in Hong Kong.

63. The main difficulty in making further rapid progress in completing this programme arises from the high proportion of physically handicapped refugees requiring permanent care in institutions. Provided that the necessary resettlement opportunities can be found for these refugees, and that no other difficulties arise, it should be possible to solve the remaining problem under the 1962 Programme and the last Major Aid Programme within the next two to three years.

Assistance to other non-settled refugees living outside camps

64. The problem of non-settled refugees living outside camps differs in many ways from that of the camp population. In the first place they are spread over many more countries and areas throughout the world (as shown in annex V), Where living conditions often differ considerably from those to which they have been accustomed. Within their country of residence they are often dispersed; their situation is therefore less well known. It is influenced by a variety of factors and is more difficult to assess.

65. Being in much closer contact with the local population, the refugees living outside camps are more sensitive to the economic conditions prevailing in their country of residence compared with those living in camps. While the non-handicapped among them are able to benefit directly from economic expansion and share the available opportunities with nationals of their country of residence, the handicapped often suffer greater hardship than those living in camps, particularly in countries where social welfare legislation is not yet fully developed or where there is no network of voluntary agencies.

66. Projects designed for assistance to non-settled refugees outside camps are similar in principle to those carried out for the camp population; their object is to assist the refugees in becoming self-supporting, such assistance however being limited to the extra help required by the refugee in order that similar chances in life should be open to him as those enjoyed by his fellow men. While the main need for the camp population is the provision of housing, refugees living outside camps require more establishment assistance, education facilities as well as vocational training or retraining, rehabilitation and counselling. In most cases this problem can be settled through small loans for establishment in crafts and trades. Counselling is proving particularly difficult to provide in certain outlying areas where there are none or few voluntary agencies and where, owing to their geographical location, the refugees are difficult to reach.

67. The Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme has recommended that within the problem of non-settled refugees first priority should be given to the handicapped, due account being taken of the individual situation of the refugees concerned and of the economic conditions in force in their place of residence.

68. During the period under review a much larger proportion of the funds available for the regular programmes could be used for assistance to non-settled refugees living outside camps; thus under the 1961 programme an amount of $4,250,000 was earmarked for this purpose and within the 1962 programme an amount of $3,850,000. In the course of 1961 far more progress was achieved in solving the problems of non-settled refugees living outside camps than in any previous year. Thus, an additional 20,501 refugees were assisted, of whom 6,828 were firmly settled, as compared with an additional 7,544 refugees assisted during 1960, including 3,249 firmly settled. From 1 January 1955 until 31 December 1961 the number of non-settled refugees living outside camps was reduced from 185,000 to less than 56,500. As shown in annex IV, this number includes a certain proportion of refugees likely to be settled through approved programmes, leaving a residual caseload of approximately 35,000 as at 1 January 1962.

69. In order to enable the Office to plan the last Major Aid Programme referred to in paragraph 51 above, considerable efforts have been made to ascertain the composition of the remaining cases and the degree of assistance which they require in various countries and areas, with a view to their permanent settlement.

70. The composition and location of the caseload by countries and areas is indicated in annex IV. The degree of assistance required varies according to the economic and social conditions of the country of location. In some countries where there is a general shortage of manpower, all non-handicapped refugees and some refugees with minor handicaps can find adequate employment . In those countries the programme can therefore be restricted to those physically and socially handicapped refugees who cannot benefit from the favourable situation without some form of assistance. In one of the main countries concerned, the Government has decided to make a substantial supporting contribution to the UNHCR programme in the form of housing for the non-settled caseload.

71. In other countries where the economic and social situation is somewhat less favourable, all the handicapped refugees will require further support from international sources in order to help them to become firmly settled. In a few countries where refugees have been admitted in considerable numbers throughout the years, a limited number of aged or otherwise physically handicapped refugees who cannot fend for themselves will require some assistance from UNHCR. There are a few other countries where, on account of changing conditions, refugees cannot consolidate their economic and social condition, while they could establish themselves elsewhere provided they were offered the necessary resettlement opportunities.

72. It is important that the essential needs of the refugees concerned should be met within the framework of the last Major Aid Programme, and that an ultimate substantial effort be made to solve their problems so as to avoid the accumulation of a new backlog similar to that which had to be faced by the international community at the beginning of this decade.

Supplementary aid

73. Supplementary aid to the neediest refugees has always been a small but indispensable component part of the UNHCR regular programme. In the course of 1961, 5,700 refugees throughout the world have been provided with assistance under this programme.

Legal assistance

74. As explained in more detail in paragraph 24 concerning international protection, legal assistance to individual refugees is an indispensable complement to protection activities and also to the material assistance programme in that it often enables a refugee to consolidate his economic or social position and to become firmly settled. One of the basic principles in granting legal assistance to refugees is that it should be afforded within the UNHCR regular programme only if the refugee cannot obtain such assistance free of charge.

75. Two types of projects have been evolved within the Legal Assistance Programme. In certain countries, where there exists a concentration of refugees, UNHCR employs, through the voluntary agencies, a certain number of legal counsellors whose task it is to give legal advice and assistance in settling disputes out of court, to represent individual refugees before administrative authorities and, exceptionally, to provide legal aid in court proceedings. For other areas, legal aid funds have been established which are used to cover private lawyers' fees, court costs and related expenses. In some countries it has been found possible to obtain voluntary legal assistance from local practicing lawyers at no charge to UNHCR.

76. In the course of 1961, 4,745 refugees benefited from the legal assistance programme for which an allocation of $120,000 had been included in the regular programme for that year. The same amount has been included in the regular programme for 1962.

CHAPTER IV NEW REFUGEE PROBLEMS

General observations

77. During the period under review, the High Commissioner continued to deal with the problem of Algerian refugees in Morocco and Tunisia, pursuant to resolutions 1500(XV) and 1672 (XV) of the General Assembly and with other new groups of refugees to whom he was authorized to extend his good offices under the terms of resolutions 1167 (XII), 1388(XIV) and 1499 (XV). The High Commissioner was called upon to deal with several new refugee situations in Africa, including in particular the problem of some 150,000 refugees in the Congo (Leopoldville), some 6,000 refugees in Togo and approximately 135,000 refugees from Rwanda in Tanganyika, Uganda, Burundi and the Kivu Province of the Congo (Leopoldville).

78. The action taken by the High Commissioner in dealing with new refugee problems has been based on the Statute of his Office, on the resolutions adopted by the Assembly, and in particular on resolution 1673 (XVI) in which the General Assembly, inter alia, requests the High Commissioner to pursue his activities on behalf of the refugees for whom he extends his good offices. In those new refugee situations in which UNHCR has been asked to take an active interest there is essentially a need for material assistance.

79. In each case the extent of international assistance which the High Commissioner may be asked to stimulate or, in a necessarily modest way, to provide must be examined in the light of the scope and nature of the problem, the resources of the country of asylum and the practical possibility for the High Commissioner usefully to take action under the terms of his good offices functions. Within the framework of these functions, the main role of the High Commissioner is to create an understanding for the problems concerned, to enlist the necessary support from all possible sources, and to act as a channel for financial and other contributions.

80. As in the case of classical refugee problems, the objective of UNHCR in dealing with new groups of refugees is to contribute towards achieving as rapidly as possible a permanent solution for their problems, which means in practice to assist the refugees in becoming self-supporting through local settlement unless there is a possibility of repatriation or resettlement.

81. The High Commissioner considers it most important that permanent solutions should be so conceived as to solve humanitarian problems and at the same time contribute to the economic and social progress of the country of asylum. Conversely, however, efforts should also be encouraged to improve the general living conditions in the country of residence of the refugees in order to provide a wider basis for the solution of their problems within the framework of the social development of the country. With this object in view, the High Commissioner is seeking to avail himself of the possibilities which might be offered to refugees under technical assistance projects supported by the United Nations and its specialized agencies in the countries concerned.

82. In actual practice, when a new problem is brought to the High Commissioner's attention, the first step of his Office is to investigate the problem in order to ascertain the type of solution required and the support which should be obtained. Subsequently, a plan of action may be worked out in mutual consultation by the Government of the country of asylum UNHCR and other agencies of the United Nations as appropriate. With regard to the implementation of such plans, the High Commissioner does not have an operational set-up at his disposal and he must therefore, when necessary, encourage one or more organizations to act as operational agencies.

83. Some of the aspects of the task of UNHCR are to ensure adequate co-ordination of the activities of all participants, closely to follow developments to ensure that essential needs are properly met, to draw the attention of the Government concerned to any special needs which might arise and to give advice if necessary. This has led the High Commissioner to send members of his staff on mission to the areas concerned and, in some cases, to appoint a Chargé de mission, usually stationed in the country of asylum of the refugees.

84. In some of the new refugee situations to which the attention of the High Commissioner was drawn, UNHCR participation was of necessity relatively limited and could provide only marginal assistance, as in the case of the large-scale problem of Chinese refugees in Hong Kong. In other instances, when the High Commissioner could be expected to give the work of assistance to refugees the impetus needed, his Office has been able to play a useful role with modest means. With regard to some of the new refugees problems in Africa, the financing of emergency relief t and local settlement has been made possible to a great extent through the large-scale contributions in cash and kind made by several Governments and voluntary organizations, and through contributions given by the United Nations and some of the specialized agencies.

85. In the absence of financial contributions, or pending their receipt, it was essential for UNHCR to be in a position to make available some of its own funds or to provide guarantees until the necessary financial means or supplies had become available.

86. From 1 January 1961 until 1 April 1962, contributions in the amount of $527,171 were paid or promised to UNHCR for assistance to new groups of refugees, whilst an amount of $71,000 was disbursed from the UNHCR Emergency Fund and an amount of $353,105 allocated from the proceeds of the UNHCR Stamp Plan, making a total of $961,276.

87. It is difficult at present to assess the extent to which the present sources of assistance will still be available for new groups of refugees in 1963. In the light of experience gained in dealing with their problems, the High Commissioner has suggested to the Executive Committee of his Programme that within the complementary assistance programme of $1.4 million proposed for 1963 an amount of $700,000 should be made available for assistance to new groups of refugees. An account of the Committee's discussions and recommendations on this matter may be found in the report on its seventh session which appears in the appendix to the present report.

Relief programme for refugees from Algeria in Morocco and Tunisia

88. The joint operation of the Office of the High Commissioner and the League of red Cross Societies was continued during the period under review on the basis of some 300,000 rations per day in Morocco and Tunisia at a total cost of approximately $8 million, including an estimated $2.3 million required in cash.

89. As previously, the joint operation included a programme whereby refugees were provide with basic food rations in an amount of 1,540 calories per person per day, as well as blankets, clothing and tents. On the additional supplementary programme, 100 milk stations were established in Tunisia and 64 in Morocco, which were attended daily by over 90,000 children. Within the same programme, multi-purpose centres and soup stations were also established from which additional food was distributed to children, while medical care was made available through dispensaries and mobile and static clinics which were established to supplement the medical facilities made available by the Governments of Morocco and Tunisia. Elementary schooling has also been made available at the multi-purpose centres.

90. During the period under review the state of health of the refugees as a whole remained satisfactory. However, in view of their living conditions and the marginal rations which they receive, careful attention has been necessary to prevent the outbreak of disease and especially to preserve the health of the children.

91. The League of Red Cross Societies, which had originally planned to conclude its programme for assistance to Algerian refugees on 30 June 1961, decided in consultation with UNHCR to continue the joint operation throughout 1961. The Board of governors of the League, at a meeting held in October 1961, decided to continue participation in joint operation until 30 June 1962, with the possibility of a further extension. This decision was taken on the explicit understanding that UNHCR would continue to assume responsibility for the financing of the relief operation in so far as it depends upon cash contributions.

92. At the beginning of 1961 the High Commissioner had to appeal to Governments members of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's programme for funds to enable the operation to be continued. This appeal was later extended to the Governments of all States Members of the United Nations and its specialized agencies. Owing to the favourable response which many Governments gave to those appeals, the financing of the operation was assured throughout 1961 and during the first months of 1962. The total amount contributed through UNHCR for 1961 to the joint operation was $2,178,116(as at 31 December 1961) or which $45,720 represented contributions in kind.

93. The operational budget for 1962, which was approved by the Executive Committee at its sixth session, envisaged the maintenance of the relief operation on much the same scale as during 1961. In order to ensure continuity, the budget had to be based on the working hypothesis that the relief operation might have to be continued throughout 1962. The estimated total cost of the operation for 1962 was calculated at $8,331,500, of which required donations in kind amounted to $6,150,500, while contributions in cash were needed in the amount of $2,181,000. This budget was based on a total of 300,000 rations for both countries. An amount of $250,000 was set aside within the total requirements of $2,181,000 as a special contingency reserve in the event that repatriation became possible during 1962.

94. In its resolution 1672 (XVI) the General Assembly requested the High Commissioner to:

"(a) Continue his present action jointly with the League of Red Cross Societies until those refugees return to their homes;

"(b) Use the means at his disposal to assist in the orderly return of those refugees to their homes and consider the possibility, when necessary, of facilitating their resettlement in their homeland as soon as circumstances permit;

"(c) Persist in his efforts to secure the resources which will enable him to complete this task."

95. At the time of writing this report, a representative of the High Commissioner was taking part in the work of the Repatriation Commission set up by the parties to the Evian Agreement, and plans had been drawn up for the repatriation of the refugees.

Refugees in other parts of Africa

96. During the period under review, the assistance of UNHCR was requested in dealing with three separate refugee problems in different areas of Africa.

REFUGEES FROM ANGOLA IN THE CONGO (LEOPOLDVILLE)

97. In May 1961, the Government of the Congo (Leopoldville) asked the High Commissioner to extend his good offices for assistance to be given to the approximately 60,000 refugees who had at that time crossed from Angola into the area of the Bas-Congo. After a preliminary investigation of the situation, UNHCR appointed a Chargé de mission in November 1961 in order to advise the Government of the Congo (Leopoldville) on the problem and to facilitate co-ordination and liaison between the Congolese authorities, ONUC, the League of Red Cross Societies and the various voluntary agencies, and to assist them in putting into effect appropriate solutions to the problems of these refugees. By 1 July 1961, the number of refugees had increased to 100,000 and by 31 December 1961 the estimated number approached 150,000. The General Assembly, in resolution 1671 (XVI), requested UNHCR to continue to lend its good offices in seeking solutions to the problem of Angolan refugees.

98. The problem which arose from the out set was to give care and maintenance to the refugees. Under general supervision and with the assistance of ONUC, especially in the supply of food and transport, the Congolese delegation of the League of Red Cross Societies undertook to co-ordinate relief in co-operation with Caritas, the Congo Protestant Relief Agency (CPRA) and the Congolese Red Cross. A co-ordinating committee was established under the direction of the delegate of the League to ensure that the refugees in all areas received similar rations and treatment. Caritas undertook responsibility for the Madimba territory, the southern part of the Thysville area and the Kimvula sector of the Popukabaka area; CPRA was responsible for the main supplies depot within the Thysville territory as well as for the relief action in the northern part of that same area, while the Congolese Red Cross undertook responsibility for the Boma-Matadi and Songololo territories. Voluntary agency representatives and local missions have taken responsibility for the distribution of food and medical supplies to the refugees in their area of operation.

99. From the beginning of the operation, the refugees were given the opportunity of voluntary repatriation. It was further decided that, pending a permanent solution to their problems, the refugees must be assisted in becoming self-supporting as soon as possible. coming as they did from an agricultural background, they were provided with land and the necessary seeds and tools in order to ensure themselves of adequate food supplies after the next harvest. In accordance with the policy considerations outlined under "General observations" above, the existing infrastructure set up by ONUC in the Congo (Leopoldville) has been utilized as far as possible both for a relief programme and for the local settlement of the refugees. Most of the refugees succeeded in producing a sufficient harvest to provide for their needs, so that the relief programme could be discontinued at the beginning of 1962. Developments, however, are being closely followed by the Office of the High Commissioner.

100. The general health situation of the refugees has remained reasonably satisfactory and there have been no epidemics or serious cases of malnutrition. WHO has kept a watch on the health situation and the League of Red Cross Societies has provided doctors and medical assistance.

101. UNHCR has earmarked an amount of $100,000 towards the cost of the League's operation of assisting the refugees from Angola. Of this amount, $25,000 has been spent in order to provide the League with vehicles to transport relief supplies. ONUC has provided the remaining transportation requirements.

102. As at 1 April 1962, the figure of 150,000 refugees from Angola in the Congo remained basically unchanged. Although facilities have been provided for voluntary repatriation, such a movement had not yet begun on any significant scale. On the other hand, the influx of newly arriving refugees is now limited and it is thought that the total so far this year has not exceeded 5,000.

103. At the time of writing this report, it was evident that the majority of the refugees from Angola in the Congo were now in a position to provide for their own support and maintenance and that assistance was only required in exceptional cases and on a much reduced scale. Careful attention still has to be paid to the availability of food supplies and to the general health situation of the refugees. Missions operating in the area have instituted programmes to provide educational facilities to refugee children and, in cooperation with UNESCO, plans are being implemented to further develop this scheme.

REFUGEES IN TOGO

104. In March 1961 the Government of Togo brought to the attention of the United Nations, and subsequently to the High Commissioner, the existence of a refugee problem within its borders and requested international assistance for the refugees. As at 31 December 1961, there were an estimated 6,000 refugees in Togo who had been granted asylum by the Togolese Government. Up to the present the refugees in Togo have been housed and fed mainly by the local population, whereas the efforts of UNHCR are being chiefly centred on promoting a plan for the local settlement of these refugees.

105. The majority of the refugees, however, live in those areas of Togo which are heavily populated and where there is considerable under-employment. Opportunities for local settlement are therefore limited.

106. In co-operation with the Togolese Government, TAB and several specialized agencies are preparing development plans. The implementation of such plans in a particular area of Togo may subsequently facilitate the settlement of refugees in that area, who would benefit from these plans along with the Togolese population.

107. At the suggestion of the High Commissioner, the League of Red Cross Societies has made arrangements with the Togolese Red Cross for a temporary emergency relief programme to be put into effect in the interval. Under this programme, refugees will be provided with basic food, clothing and medicaments. UNHCR has allocated an amount of $22,500 to help cover the League's expenses in providing this assistance.

REFUGEES FROM RWANDA

108. The Government of Tanganyika, in October 1961, requested the assistance of UNHCR in dealing with the problem of refugees from Rwanda within its borders. In response to this request, the High Commissioner sent a representative to investigate and report on the problem. The representative also contacted the Government of Uganda and the administrative authorities of Rwanda-Burundi in order to be able to understand the problem as a whole. Following this preliminary investigation, the High Commissioner appointed a Chargé de mission in East Africa in order to assist the Government of Tanganyika in carrying out its plans of assistance for the refugees, and if necessary and requested by the Government, to act in a similar capacity in Uganda.

109. In addition, the Chargé de mission appointed by UNHCR in the Congo (Leopoldville) was asked and has undertaken to advise the Government of the Congo in dealing with the situation of refugees from Rwanda in the Kivu Province.

110. As at 31 December 1961, there were in different areas neighbouring on Rwanda an estimated 123,000 refugees from that territory. By 1 April 1962 the number of refugees had increased to 135,000, of whom 5,000 were in Tanganyika, 30,000 in Uganda, 40,000 in Burundi and 60,000 in the Kivu Province of the Congo (Leopoldville). The majority of the refugees used to be the main landowners and cattle raisers in Rwanda.

111. All governments concerned have granted the refugees asylum. The Governments of Tanganyika and Uganda have established reception centres and have set up an emergency relief programme to provide for the immediate needs of the refugees. Under this programme the refugees are temporarily given shelter, food and medical services. Every effort is being made to assist the refugees in becoming self-supporting. The authorities in both countries have made land, tools and seeds available to the refugees with a view to their settlement on the land.

112. Both the Governments of Tanganyika and Uganda which, prior to the influx of the refugees, were facing drought and famine conditions for their own populations, have found it difficult to maintain adequate supplies for the relief programme, and international assistance has therefore been necessary. Several Governments and voluntary agencies have donated cash, surplus food and medical supplies. In addition, UNHCR has made available an amount of $50,000 towards the provision of emergency aid to the refugees.

113. In Burundi, the Government and the Administrative Authority have assumed full responsibility for the provision of emergency relief. Many of the refugees are being cared for by voluntary agencies and missions, who are distributing food supplies and blankets.

114. In the Kivu province of the Congo (Leopoldville), where the refugees were facing the danger of famine, UNHCR has co-operated with the League of Red Cross Societies in establishing an emergency assistance programme similar to that which was put into effect for refugees from Angola. Large amounts of supplies have been made available by ONUC, UNICEF, the League of Red Cross Societies and various other voluntary organizations.

115. In Kivu, as in Tanganyika and Uganda, the Refugees are offered the opportunity to settle on the land.

116. Repatriation facilities have been established, but at the time of writing this report no indication had been received of any significant return to Rwanda.

Refugees in Asia

CHINESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

117. As stated in his report submitted to the General Assembly at its sixteenth session, the Assembly authorized the High Commissioner in its resolution 1167 (XII) "to use his good offices to encourage arrangements for contributions" for assistance to Chinese refugees in Hong Kong. As at 1 April 1962, contributions in the total amount of $941,362, including $457,534 since 1 January 1961, were channelled by UNHCR to the Government of Hong Kong for assistance projects. In addition, direct contributions were made by other Governments and by voluntary agencies, particularly within the framework of World Refugee Year. The Hong Kong Government, which has taken full responsibility for the care of the refugees, is spending very large sums for their economic and social integration. Following discussions on the subject at the third and fourth sessions of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme, UNHCR has established a small supplementary revolving fund for assistance to a limited number of these refugees. The purpose of the fund, to which contributions had been made in the amount of $51,688 as at 31 December 1961, is to give individual loans to some of the refugees for their establishment in crafts and trades, for medical care and for housing.

118. Plans are also under consideration for the resettlement of a limited number of Chinese farming families in Latin America where they could constitute an agricultural colony.

REFUGEES FROM TIBET IN NEPAL

119. The International Committee of the Red Cross has actively concerned itself with this problem since June 1961. At the request of the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNHCR has made available its good offices to facilitate the task of assistance to these refugees. During the period July 1960-1 April 1962, contributions in a total amount of $151,493 have been channelled through the Office of the High Commissioner for assistance to these refugees. The International Committee of the Red Cross is still confronted with a serious problem of obtaining the funds required to implement its emergency relief programme for those refugees who are in dire need of assistance, and for its project of local settlement in Dhor Patan.

120. UNHCR is promoting the implementation of a scheme for the education and training of young refugees from Tibet which has been put into operation in Kenmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland with the help of governmental and non-governmental contributions from within those countries. UNHCR has contributed $20,000 from the proceeds of the UNHCR/UNRWA Stamp Plan for a group of Tibetan refugee children in France.

REFUGEES IN CAMBODIA

121. During the period under review, the High Commissioner has continued to follow the problem of 10,000 refugees in Cambodia, details of which were reported to the General Assembly at its sixteenth session. It will be recalled that upon the request of the Cambodian Government, the Office of the High Commissioner had investigated the position and had made available to the Cambodian Government the equivalent of $10,000 from its Emergency Fund. A further contribution of $80,000 was made by the Government of Belgium and transmitted to the Cambodian Government by UNHCR for assistance to these refugees.

CHAPTER V FINANCING OF UNHCR ACTIVITIES

General observations

122. As in previous years all UNHCR programmes have been financed from voluntary contributions, both governmental and non-governmental, and where necessary from the Emergency Fund.

123. Contributions paid, pledged or promised to UNHCR for its 1961 programmes and for assistance to refugees under the good offices resolutions, together with miscellaneous income available to UNHCR, totalled $7,984,614 as at 31 December 1961, in accordance with the following breakdown;

	(US dollars)
Governmental contributions	3,937,864
Non-governmental contributions	2,263,772
Miscellaneous income and promises	1,782,978
TOTAL	7,984,614

124. The influence of World Refugee Year (1959/1960) continued to make itself felt during the period non-governmental contributions. During the years 1955 to 1958, which preceded World Refugee Year, some twenty Governments on an average contributed each year. In 1959 their number was forty-two. In 1960, forty-one governments contributed and thirty-eight in 1961.

125. The total amount of governmental contributions for 1961 also remained higher than the general pre-World Refugee Year level, despite a sharp decrease compared with 1960.

126. The total of non-governmental contributions reached an unprecedented height during 1960, when it exceeded governmental contributions by one-third. It tapered off sharply in 1961 as had been anticipated. Nevertheless, non-governmental contributions for 1961 remained of significant size, representing more than 50 per cent of governmental contributions.

127. The close relations established during World Refugee Year with a large number of non-governmental organizations may be expected to be of lasting value. Although many of these organizations were established only on a temporary basis as World Refugee Year committees, some of them have been continued in one form or another and UNHCR has been able to maintain its relationship either with their successor organizations or their constituent bodies throughout 1961. Both governmental and non-governmental income for 1961 was increased by proceeds of the Joint UNHCR/UNRWA Stamp Plan which became available during 1961 in an amount of $874,744.

128. It may be stated that one of the main objectives of World Refugee Year - to focus interest on the refugee problems and to encourage additional financial contributions for their solution - was met and continues to serve as a standard. Furthermore, there has been among contributors, both governmental and non-governmental, an increasing tendency to earmark donations for assistance to new groups of refugees.

Financing of the UNHCR regular programme for 1961

129. Although the target of $6 million set by the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme was not reached, the final total of funds available amounted to $5,864,008. This sum, however, includes not only the governmental contributions paid and pledged and private contributions paid, but also the balance carried forward from 1960 of over $1 million and refunds and adjustments over $400,000. The fact that the funds available fell somewhat short of the target of $6 million meant that allocations for certain parts of the regular programme had to be reduced accordingly.

Financing of the UNHCR assistance in 1962

130. On the occasion of the meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole Assembly for the announcement of pledges of contributions to refugees programmes, held in New York on 6 December 1961, thirty-one Governments announced their intention to contribute to UNHCR programmes for 1962. By comparison, the number of governments undertaking to give financial support to UNHCR at previous pledging conferences was thirty in 1960 and twenty-eight in 1959.

131. As at 31 March 1962, $4,098,805 had been paid, pledged or promised to UNHCR for 1962. Of this amount, $3,244,310 are from Governments in the following areas; Africa (5), Americas (2), Asia (6), Europe (17), and Oceania (1). A further amount of $451,448 represents payments, pledges and promises from non-governmental organizations and the remaining amount of $403,047 represents: (a) contributions through proceeds from the Joint UNHCR/UNRWA Stamp Plan ($315,808) and (b) miscellaneous income (interest and repayments of loans in the amount of $87,239).

132. From the total amount of $4,098,805, $2,685,000 have been allocated to the UNHCR regular programme for 1962, for which a target of $5 million was established by the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme at its fifth session. The remaining, approximately $1,413,000, includes an amount of some $879,000 allocated for the joint Programme of UNHCR and the League of Red Cross Societies for refugees from Algeria and $304,286 for assistance to new groups of refugees. It is evident from the above-mentioned figure that a large gap remains to be filled to meet the $5 million target of the UNHCR regular programme for 1962 and that further contributions will be required in order to keep up the present rate of assistance to new groups of refugees under the good offices resolutions.

133. At the time of writing this report it is difficult to forecast the amount of funds that will still be required in connexion with the problem of Algerian refugees.

134. However, account should be taken of the fact that a number of Governments which normally give financial support to UNHCR have not yet announced their intentions for 1962. It is also hoped that governments which made contributions for the first time during World Refugee Year will continue their support, and that some which have not previously contributed to UNHCR will now do so in view of the wider geographical scope of the High Commissioner's tasks.

135. In the non-governmental sector, fresh efforts are needed to stimulate new contributions to finance UNHCR programmes, for even if governmental support should closely approximate results in 1961, this would by no means be sufficient to carry out the programmes planned for 1962.

Emergency Fund

136. As at January 1961, the uncommitted balance of the Emergency Fund amounted to $314,905.93. An amount of $207,200.82 accrued to the fund in the course of 1961 and a further amount of $70,412.79 from 1 January 1962 to 31 March 1962, making a total of $277,613.61.

137. From 1 January 1961 to 31 March 1962, expenditures and obligations incurred from the Fund amounted to a total of $70,960.20. This amount includes the $10,000 made available in April 1961 for assistance to refugees in Cambodia and an amount of $61,000 earmarked for assistance to refugees from Angola in the Congo (Leopoldville), and takes into account a cancellation in the amount of $39.80 of the previous year's obligations.

138. The total of funds available as at 31 March 1962 amounted, therefore, to $521,559.34. Since in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1166 (XII) the ceiling of the Emergency Fund is fixed at a level of $500,000, the balance of $21,559 has been placed in a suspense account.

139. Most of the monies paid into the Emergency Fund are repayments on housing loans. The High Commissioner has therefore suggested to the Executive Committee of his Programme that amounts not required to maintain the Fund at its ceiling of $500,000 might appropriately be re-allocated for the financing of refugee housing, as explained in more detail in the report of the seventh session of the Executive Committee which appears in the appendix to the present report.

CHAPTER VI OTHER ACTIVITIES

Relations with other offices and organizations

140. The High Commissioner has again received the most valuable co-operation from other organizations, both in discharging his current tasks and in dealing with new refugee problems.

141. The constructive support of the technical assistance services and specialized agencies of the United Nations has been increasingly valuable, even more so since the Office was called upon to promote relief to refugees in areas where these agencies are carrying out development aid programmes, as explained in more detail in chapter IV of this report. Special mention should be made in this connexion of ONUC which made its supplies available for relief programmes put into effect for refugees from Angola and subsequently for those from Rwanda. UNICEF has made a considerable contribution to the relief programmes carried out for various groups of refugees in Africa by donating large quantities of food (including milk), clothing, blankets and tents, WHO has assisted by giving advice on health problems to UNHCR and the authorities of the countries of asylum of refugees in Africa, and has organized medical care in certain areas. In Togo, WHO, together with FAO, the ILO and TAB are co-operating in a general plan of development for a particular area of that country where refugees might subsequently find an opportunity to settle.

142. UNESCO has once again worked closely together with UNHCR in the publication of pamphlets and educational material dealing with the refugee problem, as well as in the production of documentary films and radio scripts.

143. Previously, the ILO has co-operated with UNHCR in the field of international protection, particularly in social security matters, and has given UNHCR practical assistance in arranging for refugee seamen to be informed of the benefits which they can obtain under the terms of the Agreement relating to Refugee Seamen, which came into effect in the course of 1961.

144. Inter-governmental regional organizations in Europe have continued to play an important part in various fields of work of UNHCR. ICEM has as before assumed responsibility for the transportation of those refugees leaving Europe and the Far East for resettlement in other countries. The Council of Europe and its Special Representative for national refugees and surplus population have given this office invaluable support with a view to improving the status of refugees within the framework of European integration. Consultations in this connexion have taken place between UNHCR and the European Economic Community, and the arrangements with the organization for European Economic Co-operation are being taken over by its successor, the organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

145. A close relationship has continued with the numerous national and international voluntary agencies which are implementing the major part of the UNHCR regular programmes for "old" refugees in Europe, and some of which are playing a major role in carrying out relief programmes for new groups of refugees, mainly in Africa. A special mention should be made in this connexion of the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which is operating programmes for refugees in various parts of Africa. The International Committee of the Red Cross is also continuing its invaluable humanitarian task and is instrumental in organizing relief for certain groups of refugees in Asia.

146. Also, on a more general plane, close contact has been maintained between UNHCR and the non-governmental organizations and their representative body, the Standing Conference of Voluntary Agencies working for refugees, which at the beginning of this year was merged with the Conference of Non-governmental Organizations interested in immigration into a new body referred to as the International Council of Voluntary Agencies.

147. The High Commissioner is appreciative of the invaluable contribution made to his work by all the international and inter-governmental organizations as well as the voluntary agencies, and will have to rely to a large extent on their continued support in order to achieve permanent solutions for the "old" refugees in Europe and to bring rapid and effective assistance to new groups of refugees.

Public information

148. The two main objectives of the High Commissioner in the field of public information during the period under review have been to maintain the interest aroused in refugee problems by World Refugee Year and to keep Governments, organizations and people throughout the world informed of the current activities of his Office. In co-operation with the public information services of the United Nations and other organizations, the Office of the High Commissioner has made use of all available information media, including television, films, radio broadcasts and exhibitions, in order to illustrate the tragic situation of refugees and the measures through which their problems can be solved. As regards the problem of assistance to "old" refugees, UNHCR has tried to explain the shift of emphasis from the clearance of camps to the needs of the handicapped refugees living outside camps. It has also sought to explain the role of UNHCR in dealing with new groups of refugees under the terms of the good offices resolutions.

149. Taking into account the prospect of repatriation of Algerian refugees, the Office of the High Commissioner, in co-operation with the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with the assistance of the Moroccan and Tunisian authorities, produced a film entitled "man is to Man", describing the situation of Algerian refugees and the assistance measures taken under the joint relief operation. This film is being shown by television stations throughout the world in English, French, Spanish and Arabic and will be given wide distribution through the National Red Cross, the Red Crescent and the Red Lion and Sun Societies.

150. In accordance with a recommendation adopted by the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme at its fifth session, the High Commissioner organized and promoted the celebration of the centenary of the birth of Fridtjof Nansen, as described below.

Centenary of the birth of Fridtjof Nansen

151. Pursuant to the above-mentioned recommendation, an approach was made to the Governments of all States Members of the United Nations and its specialized agencies and to interested non-governmental organizations. A most favourable response was elicited from many countries throughout the world, where public attention was drawn to the centenary of Nansen and to his work through the press, radio broadcasts and television. Public meetings were held to commemorate the centenary in many capitals. A special ceremony was held on 10 October, Nansen's date of birth, in Oslo and at United Nations Headquarters. Special efforts were made to interest school children and young people in the life and achievements of Fridtjof Nansen through the distribution of educational material and the holding of talks in many countries.

Award of the Nansen Medal for 1961

152. The Nansen Medal for 1961 was awarded to His Majesty King Olav V for the outstanding services which he had rendered to the cause f refugees. In making the award, the Nansen Medal Award Committee paid tribute to the inspiring personal example and leadership given by H. M. King Olav in sponsoring the World Refugee Year campaign in Norway.

153. Upon the invitation of the Norwegian Government, the Nansen Medal Award Committee, under the chairmanship of the High commissioner, offered the medal to H. M. King Olav on 10 October 1961 at the special ceremony which was held in Oslo to commemorate the centenary of Nansen's birth.

ANNEX II International protection

A. INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS AFFECTING REFUGEES

1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees

1. During the period under review three further States became parties to the 1951 Convention; Argentina, Colombia and Turkey. The following four newly independent States, formerly French territories, have made a formal declaration to the Secretary-General that they consider themselves bound by the Convention; Cameroon, Dahomey, Ivory Coast and Niger.

2. The Holy See, which at the time of ratifying the Convention made a declaration to the effect that the works "events occurring before 1 January 1951" in article 1, section A should be understood to mean "events occurring in Europe before 1 January 1951", has now extended the scope of its ratification by interpreting that expression as "events occurring in Europe or elsewhere before 1 January 1951". The Government of Cameroon has made a similar declaration.

3. The Government of Sweden has notified the Secretary-General that in respect of article 14 the reservation made upon ratification is withdrawn. This article concerns artistic rights and industrial property.

4. The following thirty-four States have now ratified or acceded to the 1951 Convention or formally made a declaration to the Secretary-General that they consider themselves bound by that Convention; Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Dahomey, Denmark, Ecuador, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Greece, Holy See, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Yugoslavia.

1957 Agreement relating to Refugee Seamen

5. On 28 September 1961, the Federal Republic of Germany ratified this Agreement which was adopted at the invitation of the Netherlands Government and for which this Government is depositary. This was the eighth and final ratification by the signatories to the Agreement, which thus came into force on 27 December 1961. The following States are parties to the Agreement; Belgium, Denmark, federal Republic of Germany, France, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

6. The United Kingdom has extended its ratification of the Agreement to apply to the following British territories; British Honduras, Dominica, Falkland islands, Fiji, Gambia, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, Mauritius, St. Helena, St. Vincent, Seychelles and Solomon Islands Protectorate.

7. The Governing Body of the ILO adopted a resolution in December 1961 urging Governments which are not yet parties to the Agreement to accede thereto and recommending that information concerning the Agreement be more widely disseminated through organizations of shipowners and seafarers.

8. A special consultant has been attached to the UNHCR Branch Office for the Netherlands to counsel refugee seamen in the port of Rotterdam.

1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons

9. The Governments of Guinea and Madagascar have acceded to the above Convention. The Italian Parliament has also approved ratification of this convention. The following States are already parties thereto; Belgium, Denmark, France, Israel, Luxembourg, Norway, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Yugoslavia.

1961 Convention on the Reduction of statelessness

10. A United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Elimination or Reduction of Future Statelessness was held in March and April 1959 in Geneva and was continued in New York from 15 to 28 August 1961. UNHCR was represented at both sessions of the Conference by an observer and submitted comments to the Secretary-General on the draft text which was discussed at the second part of the Conference. The Conference adopted a Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The final act of the conference was signed on 30 August 1061.

11. The object of the Convention is to reduce statelessness and in particular to enable children who would otherwise be stateless from birth to acquire a nationality. The convention is of importance to UNHCR, particularly in as much as it is applicable to the children or refugees in countries of asylum who would otherwise, de jure, be stateless at birth. However, the term "stateless" is not defined in the Convention, and there are many persons who, although they may not be de jure stateless, do not possess an effective nationality and are therefore stateless de facto; this is particularly the case with many refugees, who although they may in law have retained the nationality of their country of origin, cannot avail themselves of that nationality for the reasons defined in the Statute of UNHCR or in the 1951 Convention relating to the Status Refugees. Although no provision has been incorporated in the Convention to include de facto stateless persons, resolution No. 1 adopted by the Conference states:

"The Conference

" Recommends that persons who are stateless de facto should as far as possible be treated as stateless de jure to enable them to acquire an effective nationality."

12. The Convention will enter into force two years after the date of the deposit of the sixth instrument of ratification or accession. So far the following States have signed the Convention subject to ratification: Dominican Republic, Israel, Netherlands, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

1952 Universal Copyright Convention

13. The following additional States ratified the Universal Copyright Convention and Protocol No. 1 extending its benefits to refugees habitually resident in contracting States: Denmark, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Sweden.

1956 Convention on the Recovery Abroad of Maintenance

14. The following further States have ratified this Convention: Chile and Monaco. Thus, twenty States are now parties to this Convention, which is of importance for many refugees.

Draft Declaration on the Right of Asylum

15. A draft Declaration on the Right of Asylum adopted by the Commission on Human Rights in 1960 was transmitted by the Economic and Social Council to the General Assembly by its resolution 772 E (XXX) of 25 July 1960. The General Assembly, by its resolutions 1571 (XV) of 18 December 1960 and 1682 (XVI) of 18 December 1961, postponed its consideration of this item until its sixteenth session and seventeenth session, respectively.

B. INDEMNIFICATION

Agreement of 5 October 1960 between the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees concerning payments in favour of persons who have been persecuted by reason of their nationality

16. As reported to the General Assembly last year, an Indemnification Section within the headquarters of UNHCR has been established in order to deal with the implementation of article 2 of the Agreement of 5 October 1960.

17. With a view to ensuring that all potential beneficiaries of the Fund administered by the High Commissioner have an opportunity of submitting their case, the High Commissioner, after consultation with the Indemnification Fund Consultative Committee - consisting of representatives of the voluntary agencies and of the refugees, as well as of UNHCR - decided to postpone by three months, to 31 March 1962, the date-limit until which applications may be submitted. A total of some 40,000 applications were received at the date-limit of 31 March 1962. Approximately 60 per cent of the applicants are of Polish origin. Applications have been received from persons residing in more than fifty different countries.

18. In the operation of screening applications, UNHCR is receiving the co-operation of various national and other authorities as well as that of the voluntary agencies and refugee organizations.

19. Every effort is being made to ensure rapid distribution of the Fund, and priority is being given to hardship cases. The first initial payments were made in June 1961. By 31 March 1962, decisions in respect of 1,500 payments representing $256,375 had been made, benefiting particularly applicants residing in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.

20. With the initial payment, amounting to a maximum of $250 per case, the UNHCR intends primarily to give rapid assistance as soon as applications have been screened and found to qualify. A second and main payment will be made in the course of the year 1962, the amount of which will depend upon the number of qualifying applications received. It is anticipated that upon completion of the second payment a large part of the Fund administered by the UNHCR will have been distributed. A third payment is envisaged at a later date in order to remit to the beneficiaries the residue of the Fund, including accrued interest.

21. The implementation of article 1 of the Indemnification Agreement is the responsibility of the German Federal authorities. The date-limit for the submission of applications under this article is 31 December 1962. The first positive decisions were taken in December 1961. As provided in the Protocol to the Agreement, UNHCR is co-operating with the German authorities in its implementation as regards general problems as well as on individual cases.

German Indemnification Laws

22. UNHCR is also continuing to co-operate with the competent German authorities with regard to problems which have arisen in connexion with claims of refugees under the German Indemnification Law and in particular assisting those authorities in establishing proof of refugee status required by the regulations.

23. In connexion with final German legislation which is contemplated on the matter of indemnification, UNHCR is in contact with the competent authorities with a view to ensuring that the interests of refugees are safeguarded.

C. ADMISSION AND RESIDENCE

24. In those countries where the Office of the High Commissioner takes part in the procedure established for determining whether refugees come under the scope of the 1951 Convention or within the mandate of the UNHCR, over 16,000 persons were recognized as refugees during 1961. This number includes both these refugees who went from one country of asylum to another and refugees who are newly arrived or, although they had been residing for some time in the country in which they have now been recognized, have only been formally recognized as refugees during this year.

25. UNHCR has continued to examine and certify the refugee status of applicants for admission to the United States under Public Law 86-648, in cases where those persons could not otherwise produce the evidence of refugee status required by the Law.

D. RIGHTS OF REFUGEES IN THEIR COUNTRIES OF RESIDENCE

Right to work

26. On 26 May 1961, the Swiss Federal Council issued a decree whereby all refugee doctors, dentists, pharmacists, veterinary surgeons (as well as refugee students in these fields) who were admitted to Switzerland with a view to permanent residence prior to 24 June 1960 will be allowed to take the Swiss state examinations and subsequently to practice their professions in Switzerland on the basis of equality with Swiss members of the medical professions. This decree follows a similar decree which was issued by the Swiss authorities in June 1960 with respect to Hungarian refugees.

Social security - Action taken by the ILO

27. On the basis of a decision taken by the Governing Body of the ILO in 1959, the subject of equality of treatment of nationals and non-nationals in social security was discussed at the forty-fifth session of the ILO Conference, which was held in Geneva from 7 to 29 June 1961. The Conference unanimously adopted a report of the Social Security Committee recommending the drafting of an ILO convention and an ILO recommendation on this subject.

28. The Social Security Committee unanimously decided that refugees and stateless persons should also be included in these instruments. It may, therefore, be included in these instruments. It may, therefore, be expected that refugees and stateless persons will be entitled to equal treatment with nationals without any reciprocity requirement in all countries which ratify the ILO Convention, the adoption of which must be anticipated to take place during the forty-sixth (1962) session of the ILO Conference.

Naturalization

29. In Belgium, a law has been adopted with regard to the naturalization of persons who were born or resident in the Congo (Leopoldville) or in Rwanda-Burundi. According to this law, the stay of any persons including refugees in the Congo or in Rwanda-Burundi under Belgian administration for three years from the date of independence will be considered as a qualification for naturalization on the same basis as residence in Belgium. Furthermore, a new law on naturalization adopted in Belgium on 28 February 1962 will favour the acquisition of Belgian nationality by numerous refugee children resident in that country.

E. MOVEMENT OF REFUGEES

30. The European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees has been ratified by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. The following eight countries are now parties to that Agreement: Belgium, Denmark, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

31. Upon its ratification of the European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees, the Federal Republic of Germany withdrew the visa requirement imposed in 1957 with regard to new Hungarian refugees. In accordance with the practice prevailing before the introduction of this restriction, all refugees including Hungarian refugees who are holders of Convention travel documents, valid for at least four months, do not require a visa for visits of three months or less to the Federal Republic of Germany.

32. The United States authorities do not issue a special travel document for refugees resident in the United States who wish to travel abroad, and so far such refugees have had to travel on the basis of an affidavit of identity. The Immigration and Naturalization Service now issues a new format of "Permit to Re-enter the United States" to permanent resident aliens including refugees who wish to travel abroad temporarily. This document is in booklet form and contains pages for the insertion of visas by other countries.

33. The Governments of Greece and New Zealand now issue the refugee travel document provided for by article 28 of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. Certain other Governments which have recently ratified that Convention are making arrangements for the issue of these documents in their countries. The Convention travel document is now issued by eighteen States, and is formally recognized by thirty-one additional States.

34. The Italian Government has issued a new aliens travel document, which will be available, inter alia, to refugees in Italy who do not fall within the scope of the 1951 Convention.

(Note: Financial and statistical data tables not included in this online version. See your nearest UN Depository Library.)

APPENDIX Report on the seventh session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme (Geneva, 14-22 May 1962)³

PART I GENERAL QUESTIONS

Introduction

Opening of the session

1. The Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme held its seventh session from 14 to 22 May 1962 at the Palais des Nations, Geneva. Mr. K. Salvesen (Norway), Chairman in office, opened the session.

2. The Committee elected the following officers by acclamation: Lady Tweedsmuir (United Kingdom); Vice-Chairman; Mr. H. E. Alaçam (Turkey); Rapporteur: Mr. J. Desy (Belgium).

3. All the members of the Committee were represented at the session, as follows;

Australia	Israel
Austria	Italy
Belgium	Netherlands
Brazil	Norway
Canada	Sweden
China	Switzerland
Colombia	Tunisia
Denmark	Turkey
Federal Republic of Germany	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
France	United States of America
Greece	Venezuela
Holy See	Yugoslavia
Iran

4. The Governments of Cuba, Iraq, New Zealand and Portugal were represented by an observer, as was the Sovereign Order of Malta.

5. The International Labour Organisation, the Council of Europe, the Inter-governmental Committee for European Migration and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development were represented by observers.

6. On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman welcomed Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, who had recently been appointed Deputy High Commissioner.

Adoption of the agenda

7. The Committee adopted the following agenda;

1. Election of officers.

2. Adoption of the agenda (A/AC.96/150/Rev.1).

3. Introductory statement by the High Commissioner.

4. Action taken by the General Assembly at its sixteenth session (A/AC.96/151).

5. Report on International protection (A/AC.96/152).

6. Progress Report on UNHCR Regular Annual Programmes and on the former UNREF Programme as at 31 December 1961 (A/AC.96/153 and A/AC.96/167).

7. Report on the Resettlement of Refugees (A/AC.96/154).

8. Report on the Far Eastern Operation (A/AC.96/155).

9. Report on the mental health of refugees in the special case category (A/AC.96/156).

10. Report on Legal Assistance (A/AC.96/157).

11. Report on New Refugee Situations (A/AC.96/158).

12. Report on the use of the Emergency Fund (A/AC.96/159).

13. Assistance to refugees from Algeria in Morocco and Tunisia (A/AC.96/160).

14. Note on the status of contributions to UNHCR for 1961 and 1962 (A/AC.96/161 and A/AC.96/165).

15. Material Assistance Programme for 1962 (New and Revised Projects) (A/AC.96/164).

16. Programme Allocations for 1963 (A/AC.96/162).

17. Report on Refugee Housing (A/AC.96/166).

18. Provisional financial statements for the year 1961 (A/AC.96/163 and A/AC.96/168).

Participation by inter-governmental organizations

8. The Committee decided to include the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, which had superseded the Organization for European Economic Co-operation, in the list of inter-governmental organizations provided for under rule 38 of the rules of procedure.

Consultation of non-governmental organizations

9. The Committee took note of the establishment of the International Council of Voluntary Agencies, a new body which will henceforward replace the Standing Conference of Voluntary Agencies Working for Refugees, and the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations Interested in Migration.

10. After hearing a statement by the Vice-Chairman of the Governing Board of this new organization, the Committee paid a tribute to the work done by the voluntary agencies working for refugees and expressed the hope that the cordial relations established between the Executive Committee and the Standing Conference would be continued with the International Council of Voluntary Agencies and its member organizations.

Opening statement by the High Commissioner

11. In his opening statement, the full text of which is reproduced in annex I to this report, the High Commissioner summarized recent developments in the field of international assistance to refugees, laying stress on the efforts made by the Office of the High Commissioner, firstly to settle the problems of the "old" refugees and, secondly, to put into operation the "good offices" procedure, in accordance with the resolutions to that effect adopted by the General Assembly. The High Commissioner also referred to the steps at present being taken to arrange for the repatriation of Algerian refugees.

12. Several representatives expressed their appreciation of the High Commissioner's statement. They paid tribute to his work and approved the views he had put forward.

13. The representative of Sweden also announced that, in response to the High Commissioner's appeal, his Government had granted a sum of $48,327.86 towards the repatriation of Algerian refugees.

14. The representative of the Federal Republic of Germany said that non-German refugee problems in Germany were likely to be settled in the near future, and that his Government, with the assistance of the Land Governments and voluntary organizations in the Federal Republic, would be in a position to solve pending problems in the near future. Moreover, in view of the urgent needs that were arising in other parts of the world, his Government had decided to increase its contribution to the High Commissioner's Programmes from $220,000 to $300,000.

Action taken by the General Assembly at its sixteenth session (item 4 of the agenda)

15. The Executive Committee noted with interest the report submitted by the High Commissioner on the action taken by the General Assembly at its sixteenth session concerning the work of the High Commission's office (A/AC.96/151).

PART II. REPORTS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF UNHCR

Report on international protection (item 5 of the agenda)

16. Introducing this item of the agenda, the representative of the High Commissioner explained that the main purpose of the report on the international protection of refugees (A/AC.96/152) was to give an account of the nature of the High Commissioner's activities in this field. He stressed the humanitarian aspect of those activities and pointed out that in addition to measures of a general character, considerable practical assistance was given every day to refugees to help them to overcome the administrative or legal difficulties with which they were faced. In conclusion, he stated the principal aims of the international protection of refugees.

17. The Committee expressed great interest in the report submitted by the High Commissioner on this subject. Several speakers subscribed to the considerations set out in the report and stressed the great importance they attached to the function of international protection, the continuance of which was all the more necessary now that the major aid projects were coming to an end.

18. The Committee heard with interest the statements of the representatives of Belgium, China Italy, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom⁴ on the measures which their countries have taken or intend to take to improve the status and situation of refugees. All those measures: domestic legislation, bilateral or multilateral agreements and administrative decisions, were designed to bring the status of the refugees as closely into line as possible with that of the nationals of the country in which they have been received, to consolidate their economic and social situation and to expedite their firm settlement.

19. The representative of China stressed the importance for refugees of the United Nations draft declaration on the right of asylum and expressed the hope that the High Commissioner would continue to concern himself with that matter and accord his protection to all refugees wherever they happened to be.

20. In reply to a question by the representative of France, the representative of the High Commissioner said that a fuller report, containing detailed information on the economic and social rights accorded to refugees, would be submitted to the General Assembly.

21. The observer for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development informed the Committee that OECD, which had superseded the European Organization for Economic Co-operation, had decided to retain the decision and the recommendations adopted by OEEC concerning the freedom of movement of workers including refugees with a view to their taking up employment in member countries.

22. The High Commissioner stressed the great importance he attached to the support he received from the European organizations, such as the Council of Europe and its Special Representative for National Refugees, the European Economic Community and OECD, and also from the Governments which were members of those organizations. Their concerted action particularly should facilitate, within the framework of European integration, the permanent solution of the problems still inherent in the situation of some 800,000 refugees within the High Commissioner's mandate in Europe.

23. In conclusion, the Executive Committee noted with appreciation the report on international protection and on the progress achieved in that field.

Progress report on UNHCR regular programmes for 1959, 1960 and 1961 and on the former UNREF Programme as at 31 December 1961 (item 6 of the agenda)

24. Introducing the Progress Report and the Note on the progress made in clearance of camps (A/AC.96/153 and A/AC.96/167), the representative of the High Commissioner stated that in 1961 more than 12,000 refugees had been firmly settled, bringing the total number of refugees settled through the efforts of UNHCR since 1955 up to over 58,000. Of that number nearly 44,000 had been integrated in their country of residence, 14,300 had been resettled elsewhere and some had been assisted in their voluntary repatriation. The camp population had been reduced by almost one-half, or by 6,650 persons during 1961. Of the 65,000 non-settled refugees for whom no solution had yet been found at 1 January 1962, some 30,000 would probably be assisted by current projects and some of the remaining 35,000 were in countries where they could settle without international assistance.

25. Most of the speakers expressed satisfaction at the progress made in finding permanent solutions to the problems of the "old" refugees. Some representatives stressed the importance which their governments attached to the successful completion of the camp clearance programme.

26. The Venezuelan representative was glad to note the progress made in 1961, particularly with regard to the legal assistance provided for refugees in his country.

27. During the debate questions were asked regarding certain aspects of the programme. These questions and the replies made to them are reported on in full in the summary record of the 57th meeting.

28. The representative of Australia sought information concerning the carry-over of $9,000,000 which was committed by the High Commissioner by the end of 1961 but which had not yet been disbursed.

29. The representative of the Federal German Republic stated that his Government was concerned about the problem of the group of approximately 100 special cases mentioned in paragraph 161 of the report, and he hoped that they would be given particular attention. He also stressed the large number of foreign refugees who had been settled with his Government's assistance.

30. The Norwegian representative, who had been Chairman of the Committee when its members had visited Greece, thanked the Greek Government for its hospitality and praised the work which was being done for refugees in Greece.

31. The Chair also recalled with pleasure her visit to Greece and her cordial reception in Italy and Turkey.

32. In the course of the discussion the Yugoslav representative made a statement⁵ in which he reviewed the work done by his country to assist refugees and recalled that in 1961, as a result of the joint efforts of Yugoslavia, UNHCR and the Governments of Belgium, France and the United States of America, it had been possible to clear the camp at Gerovo. The United States representative said that his Government and UNHCR had contributed funds for the resettlement in Belgium of the Gerovo refugees, that the Italian Government had also received a large number of refugees from that centre, and that the French Government planned to assume responsibility for a number of those who had recently been transferred from Gerovo to the vicinity of Zagreb.

33. The Belgian representative informed the Committee that the voluntary agencies assisting in the resettlement of the refugees proposed to take similar action on behalf of refugees in another country.

34. The High Commissioner added that the Yugoslav authorities planned to set up a new reception centre UNHCR would send one of its stuff members to the centre periodically and would try to find ways and means of helping the Yugoslav Government to finance the establishment of the centre. His attention had recently been drawn to the expenditure incurred by Yugoslavia in providing housing for the refugees in that country.

35. The representative of the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, referring to paragraph 24 of the Progress Report, pointed out that despite the considerable progress which had been made, the task of assisting refugees would be by no means completed by the end of 1963. The refugee problem was shifting from Europe towards Asia and Africa and UNHCR would therefore continue to play an indispensable role. The Netherlands representative gave his full support to the statement by the representative of the Commission of the Churches on International affairs.

36. The Chair agreed that the Problem in question was an important one.

37. The Executive Committee took note with satisfaction of the Progress Report and the Note on Camp Clearance and of the Progress made during the period covered by those reports.

Report on the resettlement of refugees (item 7 of the agenda)

38. The representative of the High Commissioner, in introducing the Report on the Resettlement of Refugees (document A/AC.96/154), emphasized the importance of ensuring that resettlement opportunities were available at all times for those refugees who had realistic wishes in that direction, and stressed the usefulness of close co-operation of governments and interested organizations in the work of resettlement. While the number of refugees seeking resettlement as a permanent solution was not excessive, on an individual basis the caseload was becoming more and more difficult to handle. It was for this reason that the High Commissioner, through the courtesy of the Australian Government, had enlisted the services of Dr. Jensen, who was making an exhaustive survey of handicapped refugees with a view to increasing their chances of resettlement This technique had been applied in Italy, and had proved effective.

39. Mr. B. Haveman, Director of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM), made a statement in which he referred to the fruitful co-operation which had developed between UNHCR and ICEM. The resettlement of refugees through migration was rightly considered as an international responsibility, as it was inter alia alleviating the burden of countries of first asylum. His organization would keep its member governments fully informed of any refugee problems that might have a bearing on the activities of ICEM. He also stressed ICEM's special interest in assisting in the resettlement of handicapped refugees, which were at present included in six schemes carried out by the organization. ICEM would continue to co-operate with USEP and the High Commissioner in promoting the special survey which had been under taken in Austria and in Italy in order to give the severely handicapped the best possible opportunities for emigration. He would also be glad to assist the High Commissioner in promoting facilities for integration and assimilation in the receiving countries, a problem in which housing was a vital element. In conclusion, he stated that his organization would be ready to play its part in any new refugee situations.

40. Most representatives who spoke emphasized the importance of resettlement as a solution to the problems of refugees. They praised the action taken by the High Commissioner in this field and recommended that it should be continued. The handicapped refugees had benefited from the liberal admission criteria adopted on the occasion of World Refugee Year and maintained in effect in most cases, and it was essential in their opinion that further efforts be made in that direction. In this connexion they showed a particular interest in the surveys carried on by Dr. Jensen and suggested that these should be continued in other areas where a greater number of handicapped refugees might thus be enabled to benefit from resettlement opportunities.

41. The representative of Italy emphasized the special importance of migration as a solution for refugees in Italy. Countries of first asylum, as for example Italy, were contributing for the care and maintenance of refugees on the territory and to their resettlement though ICEM and the voluntary agencies. Furthermore, his country was bearing financial responsibility for assistance to refugees within the mandate of UNHCR as well as to other refugees. He paid tribute to the survey carried out by Dr. Jensen which showed that many refugees who were still in camps belonged to the special cases category, and he appealed to governments to include an adequate proportion of handicapped refugees in their resettlement schemes and further liberalize their selection criteria.

42. The representatives of Australia, Canada and Switzerland gave the Committee an account of some of the measures taken by their countries for the admission of refugees, and in particular handicapped cases, as shown in more detail in the summary record of the fifty-eighth meeting. They also informed the Committee of additional resettlement opportunities which their governments hoped to be able to offer to refugees.

43. The representative of Norway enquired into the extent to which it was considered that refugees in the handicapped category would adapt themselves more easily in a country like Norway, which might admit a further number. The representative of the High Commissioner stated that each case would have to be considered on its merits after consultation between the government of the country of reception, UNHCR and the counsellors of the voluntary agency concerned.

44. The representative of the United Kingdom recalled that over 250,000 refugees had been admitted to his country since the second world was, and that while his delegation was sympathetic to the High Commissioner's appeal for further resettlement opportunities, his Government could not hold out any hope of accepting any further refugees except under normal immigration rules. Britain was a small and overcrowded island and recently it had proved necessary to issue new, more restrictive, immigration regulations in respect of Commonwealth citizens.

45. The Committee noted the Report on Resettlement and in particular the suggestions contained in paragraphs 55, and 58-60. It expressed its general agreement with the plans envisaged by the Office of the High Commissioner for assistance in the resettlement of refugees from certain areas where they cannot achieve firm settlement, and expressed support for the plans outlined in section VII of the report.

Report on the Far Eastern Operation (item 8 of the agenda)

46. In introducing the report on the Far Eastern Operation (A/AC.96/155), the representative of the high Commissioner pointed out that the progress achieved during 1962 was less encouraging than in 1961 and that if the rate of arrivals of the refugees in Hong Kong remained as at present it would be impossible to carry out the programme according to plan. As the operation was drawing to a close, resettlement opportunities were becoming more difficult to, while at the same time nearly every refugee family included one or more handicapped member in need of assistance under the UNHCR counselling services.

47. The special survey which it was intended to carry out in Hong Kong would facilitate the finding of solutions for the residual group of handicapped refugees at present in transit in Hong Kong, as well as for new arrivals.

48. In the course of the discussion, considerable interest was shown for this problem and appreciation was expressed for the progress that had been achieved and for the helpful co-operation of the Hong Kong authorities. The representative of Australia stressed that his country had always followed Far Eastern Operation with the greatest interest and had admitted some 40 per cent of the 17,000 refugees who had been re-settled from the Far East under the Joint operation of UNHCR and ICEM. The representative of Canada stated that his government was considering the question of the admission of a certain number of these refugees. The representative of China recalled that a considerable contribution for assistance to European refugees in the Far East had been made by the Government of his country at end of the Second World War.

49. The Executive Committee noted the report on the Far Eastern Operation and in particular paragraphs 11-15 of the document, and noted with satisfaction the progress achieved in the resettlement of refugees of European origin from the Far East.

Report on the mental health of refugees in the special case category (item 9 of the agenda)

50. The Mental Health Adviser pointed out that his report (A/AC.96/156) dealt solely with the work in progress during the second half of 1961. He drew the Committee's attention to the increase in the number of refugees who no longer required special treatment and who merely had to remain under observation. The situation in respect of refugees under treatment had also improved to such an extent that most of them could live at home. Additional information on special cases in Germany was given in document A/AC.96/156/Add.1. Moreover, the Italian Government had just approved the organization, in the site of the former San Antonio camp, of a sheltered community where a number of special cases would receive help.

51. The Italian representative stated that his Government had undertaken to meet the administrative and care and maintenance costs of the San Antonio sheltered community, amounting to some 90 million lire per year. In 1961 the Italian Government had also defrayed the hospitalization expenses for tuberculous refugees and special cases, amounting to 53 million lire.

52. In reply to a question by the Turkish representative, the Mental Health Adviser explained that the cost of assistance to certain special cases in Turkey, referred to in paragraphs 42-44 of the report, would be covered by the credits earmarked for projects in progress.

53. The Committee took note of the Mental Health Adviser's report and approved the suggestion made in paragraphs 42-44 of the report.

Report on legal assistance (item 10 of the agenda)

54. Introducing this item of the agenda (A/AC.96/157) the representative of the High Commissioner recalled that, in response to a request formulated by the Committee at its sixth session, the High Commissioner had considered jointly with the governments concerned the extent to which it was deemed necessary to retain or modify the Legal Assistance Programme at present applied in the various countries.

55. During the discussion, the representatives of the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom gave an account of the legal assistance system in operation in their respective countries; a description of these systems is given in the summary record of the fifty-eighth meeting. They pointed out that refugees, too, were entitled to take advantage of the system of legal assistance devised for persons of limited means. The representatives of the Federal Republic of Germany and Italy felt, however, that in view of the complex legal problems, and of the language difficulties, with which refugees were often faced, it would be desirable to retain UNHCR's Legal Assistance Programme.

56. The representatives of Belgium and Canada stated that their delegations withdrew the reservations they had entered earlier on the subject. Several other representatives likewise stressed the importance they attached to the implementation of UNHCR's Legal Assistance Programme. In response to a request by one representative, it was agreed that more detailed information would be furnished concerning the number of beneficiaries.

57. The Australian representative stressed the need for such assistance in countries where no free legal assistance service existed. By keeping in close touch with the competent authorities of the countries concerned, the High Commissioner would be able to consider ways and means of facilitating the taking over of those tasks later on by the competent services of those countries.

58. The representative of the High Commissioner, referring to the Australian representative's suggestion, said that the Office of the High Commissioner would continue to keep a close watch on the situation with a view to adapting the Legal Assistance Programme to changing circumstances.

59. The Executive Committee took note of the report on legal assistance and, in particular, of the conclusions set forth in paragraphs 19 and 20.

Status of contributions to UNHCR for 1961 and 1962 (item 14 of the agenda)

60. In submitting the reports on the status of contributions (A/AC.96/161) and on the joint UNHCR /UNRWA Stamp plan (A/AC.96/165) the representative of the High commissioner said that while the financial requirements for the 1961 programme had been practically covered, for the 1962 programme, governmental contributions paid, pledged or promised at 31 March 1962 amounted to only $2,539,510, whereas the financial target was $5 million. He hoped that governments would be willing to consider increasing their contributions; it would also be desirable for a larger number of countries to support the international effort of assistance to refugees; of over 100 States Members of the United Nations, only 33 had so far announced contributions for 1962. With regard to contributions from private sources, it would take some time to launch new campaigns.

61. In the course of the session, the Committee expressed its satisfaction with the contributions paid, pledged or promised since its sixth session, as set out in the addendum to the High Commissioner's report on the status of contributions (A/AC.96/161/Add.1), and with the contributions announced during the session.

62. After a brief exchange of views, the Committee took note of the report submitted by the High Commissioner on the status of contributions and the utilization of the proceeds of the sale of postage stamps issued under the UNHCR/UNRWA Stamp plan. It also noted the High Commissioner's efforts to collect funds from governmental and non-governmental sources. The Committee recommended that the High Commissioner should pursue his fund-raising effort with a view to reaching the financial targets agreed by the Executive Committee, and in order to be in a position to assist the groups of refugees with which he is called upon to deal.

Provisional financial statements for the year 1961 (item 18 of the agenda)

63. After the representative of the High Commissioner had given explanations regarding the provisional financial statements contained in document A/AC.96/163 and the balances of the United Nations Refugee Fund dealt with in document A/AC.96/168, the Executive Committee took note of the provisional financial statements and the statement on outstanding balances of the United Nations Refugee Fund

Report on new refugee situations (item 11 of the agenda)

64. The Deputy High Commissioner, introducing the report on new refugee problems (A/AC.96/158), made a statement⁶ summarizing the part which the High Commissioner might be called upon to play under the good offices resolutions. He also reported to the Committee on the number of refugees from Ruanda and the action taken to assist them. Lastly, he informed the committee of the plan submitted by the Observer for Portugal, for the settlement of the Chinese refugees at Macao. As in the case of other refugee problems, the contribution which UNHCR could make would depend upon the interest shown by the international community.

65. The committee then heard a statement by the UNHCR Chargé de Mission in East Africa, who reviewed the situation of Rwanda refugees in Tanganyika, Uganda and Burundi. He drew attention to the problems involved in the organization of the assistance programme; the great distances over which relief materials had to be carried, the cold climate on the high plateaux, which increased the risk of illness and the needs of the refugees in respect of housing, clothing and food rich in protein. UNHCR was following the development of the situation closely and had recently made $20,000 available to the Government of Tanganyika to help defray the heavy expenditure which assistance to the refugees entailed. The refugees were also being cared for by the authorities in Uganda and Burundi.

66. Another eye-witness, the Director of UNHCR, had reported on the visit which he had made to the Congo, particularly to the Province of Kivu, where there were at present some 60,000 refugees from Rwanda, more than half of whom were subsisting on the food supplied to them through the league of Red Cross Societies, while 27,000 were self-supporting. The Director had been particularly impressed by the plight of a great number of these refugees and also by the practical difficulties which had to be met in carrying out the programme. The High Commissioner had accordingly contributed $65,000 for the purchase of ambulances and other vehicles required for the relief operation. While he had the impression that the refugees from Rwanda could settle locally and engage in agriculture in particular, it was possible that some of them might subsequently be repatriated - this UNHCR would of course bear in mind. In the meantime it had been possible to save the lives of action of the governments concerned, UNHCR and other organizations.

67. Members of the Committee who made statements expressed their gratification at the measures adopted by the High Commissioner to assist new groups of refugees. The action undertaken was both humanitarian and realistic and they stressed the importance which enabled the High Commissioner to encourage joint action by governments, other international organizations, voluntary agencies and missionaries, who were often the first to come to grips with the problems raised by new groups of refugees. One speaker also stated that he supported the point of view, expressed in the report, that it was particularly important to enable the refugees to become self-supporting as possible.

68. The representative of the Holy See said that the Holy See attached great importance to the universal nature of the High Commissioner's work. It had recently contributed $5,000 to the programme of assistance to refugees in Togo, in order to show its interest in all refugee problems and to encourage the international community to concern itself with all the cases which arose.

69. The Belgian representative recalled that his Government had supported all the decisions taken to assist new groups of refugees and had earmarked for that purpose a large part of its annual contribution to UNHCR. In addition, his government, in co-operation with the authorities of Rwanda and Burundi, was trying to find permanent solutions for the problems of the Rwanda refugees, whether through repatriation or local settlement. In view of the large funds required for that assistance, his delegation, on the suggestion of the United Nations Commission for Rwanda Burundi, had asked the High Commissioner to supply all possible assistance to those refugees who were in Burundi and would not be able to return to Rwanda in the near future.

70. The French representative gave particulars about the arrangements which were being made for the reception in France of 20 Tibetan children who were at present in Nepal.

71. The representative of China drew the Committee's attention to the fact that Chinese refugees escaping to Hong Kong had been turned back, as recently reported in the Press and in the Hong Kong Government Gazette. He asked the High Commissioner and the Committee to give the matter their close attention and to find means of assisting the Hong Kong authorities to solve both that problem and others arising for the Chinese refugees, including the problem of their final settlement. The Chinese Government was prepared to co-operate, through the High Commissioner, in the assistance measures required for those refugees.

72. The representative of the United Kingdom stated in this connexion that the Hong Kong Government had been applying the same policy of immigration control since 1956. The Hong Kong authorities must concern themselves in the first place with the community for which they were responsible. The population of Hong Kong which now exceeded 3,000,000 had rapidly increased in recent years and the Hong King Government could not allow this increase to continue without seriously endangering the standards of living of those residing in the colony. The Hong Kong Government nevertheless allowed for a daily quota of 50 emigrants who may enter Hong Kong by means of entry permits issued by the Immigration Office, and by British representatives in Macao, Peking and Shanghai.

73. The observer for Portugal stated that a plan for the assistance of Chinese refugees in Macao had been submitted to the High Commissioner and circulated to members of the Committee. The plan provided in particular for the construction of housing, schools and industrial premises and was designed to enable some 30,000 refugees to settle and become self-supporting. The cost of its implementation was estimated at $11 million, not including the land, valued at $8 million, which would be provided by the Portuguese Government.

74. The observer for Cuba referred to paragraph 69 of the report (A/AC.96/158), which mentioned the existence in Spain of over 5,000 refugees from Cuba. In his opinion, those persons were not refugees in the traditional sense of the term; they seemed to have had no difficulty in finding funds for their journey to Spain. Moreover, he considered that the "good offices " procedure could not properly be applied to the refugees in question.

75. The Director recalled that the High Commissioner had been requested by the Spanish Government to concern himself with the problem and had carried out an investigation on the spot. For purely humanitarian reasons and in the framework of his good offices functions, he had transmitted to a Spanish voluntary agency which was caring for a certain number of these refugees a financial contribution received from private sources for that purpose.

76. The observer for the Sovereign Order of Malta recalled that, at the request of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC ) and in agreement with the Office of the High Commissioner, his order had placed at the disposal of the ICRC, for its programme of assistance to Tibetan refugees in Nepal, a DC-3 aircraft, owned by the Order, for emergency relief transport. The aircraft would be used for several weeks in relief transport between major bases and the high-altitude camps which could not be reached by other means.

77. The Committee also heard a statement by the representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross, who described the action taken by the ICRC on behalf of Tibetan refugees in Nepal. The ICRC was providing technical assistance for the integration of some 30,000 of those refugees, and had also organized an emergency relief programme and a pilot project for the settlement of some 750 refugees at Dhor patan, in a valley in the interior of Nepal. The financing of the ICRC programme had been facilitated by the good offices of the High Commissioner.

78. In conclusion, the Executive Committee took note with satisfaction of the measures adopted by the High Commissioner with a view to assisting the new groups of refugees, and of the principles, set out in paragraphs 5 to 13 of the report, which he was observing in that field.

Report on the use of the Emergency fund (item 12 of the agenda)

79. The representative of the Office of the High Commissioner, introducing the Report on the use of the Emergency Fund (A/AC.96/159), explained how the Fund was used; his explanation is summed up in the summary record of the sixty-first meeting. He also gave background information on the proposals set out in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the report.

80. Several representatives felt that once the $500,000 ceiling of the Emergency Fund is reached any sum intended for that Fund should be allocated to emergency programmes.

81. The Swedish representative suggested that the repayments on housing loans exceeding the present ceiling of the Emergency Fund should not be used for housing purposes in the first place, but go to the Fund, whose ceiling should be raised in order that it should become a more appropriate instrument to enable the High Commissioner to meet new refugee situations. He therefore suggested that this problem should be reconsidered.

82. The Committee took note of the Report on the use of the Emergency Fund.⁷

Report on refuge housing (item 17 of the agenda)

83. The representative of the High Commissioner drew the Committee's attention to the large number of non-settled refugees living in sub-standard housing but who could not under the present criteria benefit from the housing projects included in the high Commissioner's regular programme. In order to assist those refugees to obtain accommodation, the High Commissioner had proposed measures which would not call for additional contributions form the international community. In view of the modest participation expected on the part of his Office, the High Commissioner might provide the necessary funds out of repaid loans granted for housing projects, provided that the amounts in question were not required to maintain the Emergency Fund at its $500,000 ceiling. Such a grant by UNHCR would act as a catalyst, thus stimulating the contribution of considerable funds for refugee housing, as for example in he case of the housing plan proposed in document A/AC.96/166 for non-settled refugees living in France.

84. Several representatives expressed themselves in agreement with the High Commissioner's proposals. Other representatives, while expressing themselves in favour of housing aid, considered that the extent of such aid should be related to the economic situation of the country in which it was granted. Such projects should, in their view, be included in the High Commissioner's regular programmes and financed out of the funds provided for those programmes. They also considered that any sum intended for the Emergency Fund and exceeding the ceiling laid down for that fund should be earmarked for emergency programmes.

85. The Committee listened with interest to the statements made by the representatives of Australia, the Federal Republic of Germany and France on the housing facilities provided for refugees in those countries.⁸ In reply to a question, the representative of the High Commissioner explained the measures adopted in several countries where refugees resided, more particularly in Austria, to assist refugees who were unable to repay the housing loans granted them under the High Commissioner's programmes.

86. The Executive Committee expressed its interest in the suggestions for housing loans for refugees contained in documents A/AC.96/159 and A/AC.96/166 and, with a view to reaching a decision at its next session, it asked the High Commissioner to reconsider the means for financing these suggestions.

PART III. PROGRAMMES OF THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER

Assistance to refugees from Algeria in Morocco and Tunisia (item 13 of the agenda)

87. The High Commissioner, in commenting on his report on assistance to refugees from Algeria (A/AC.96/160), pointed out that the joint operation of the league of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and UNHCR had entered a new and decisive phase; the repatriation of the refugees. As a result of the concerted efforts of all who had either participated in or contributed to the relief programme, thousands of human lives had been saved. The problem now was how to encourage the refugees to build a new life in their own country.

88. The Deputy High Commissioner in introducing the report said that the report reviewed what had been done under the assistance programme since the Committee's last session. Assistance to the refugees had continued without interruption. In Morocco, some 65,000 Moroccan nationals had been among those receiving rations. The attention of the Moroccan authorities had in due time been drawn to this problem. The question of payment for internal transport in Morocco of supplies for the refugees had also been settled. The most important event, however, had been the conclusion of the Evian Agreements, which provided for the repatriation of the refugees. A permanent solution could thus be found for their problem. The main task at present was to help the refugees to return to their homes. The High Commissioner had taken the necessary steps to that end, in co-operation with the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, which had recruited supplementary staff and had organized the health control of refugees at frontier crossing points. In response to the appeal by the High Commissioner and the League for tents, 14,000 of the 15,000 asked for had already been supplied.

89. The Deputy High Commissioner said that the refugees had already begun to leave Morocco and would soon begin to leave Tunisia. He added that the cost of the operation would be considerable: UNHCR and the League had already spent or committed more than the League had already spent or committed more than $400,000 for the purchase of tents and vehicles and to meet the cost of supplementary staff. That sum did not include the expenses involved in transporting the refugees to the frontier. A budget for the cost of repatriation would be prepared as soon as possible and circulated to the members of the Committee.

90. The Deputy High Commissioner emphasized that once the refugees had been repatriated a great deal would remain to be done to enable them to settle satisfactorily. In accordance with resolution 1672 (XVI), the High Commissioner would be ready to use his good offices in order to transmit aid from the international community to the authorities concerned in order to facilitate the solution of that problem.

91. The Secretary-General of the League of Red Cross societies said that the joint operation by UNHCR and the League was the longest and most far-reaching that the League had ever undertaken, since it had had the support of societies in 55 countries. It was also the most important in terms of the value of the assistance provided, which, at the end of March 1962, had amounted to 83 million Swiss francs.

92. The Secretary-General of the League said that his organization normally acted only in an emergency immediately following a disaster. For that reason it had had to review its participation in the joint operation at regular intervals, as a matter of principle. Although the end of the problem was in sight it would be a mistake to disregard the future lot of those refugees.

93. The Chairman thanked the League on behalf of the Committee, and of all the governments and organizations concerned.

94. In the ensuing discussions all the speakers expressed gratification at the prospect of a final solution for the problems of the Algerian refugees. They paid tribute to the work done by the High Commissioner and the League to help the refugees, and to members of the international community who had contributed to or participated in the relief programme.

95. The representatives of the countries listed below informed the Committee of the contributions in cash or in king which their governments had made or were intending to make towards the assistance programme, either through the High Commissioner or through the National Red Cross and Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; Denmark, France, Greece, Holy See, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America and Yugoslavia. Particulars of these contributions are given in paragraph 13 of Part I of this report, in the summary record of the sixty-second meeting and in documents A/AC.96/160 and 161.

96. The representative of the Holy See said that the part played by the High Commissioner in the solution of the problem of Algerian refugees should be sufficient evidence of the need to maintain the Office.

97. The representative of Tunisia recalled the efforts made by his country to assist these refugees since their arrival and the measures taken by the Tunisian Authorities in order to ensure their repatriation under the best possible conditions. He expressed the hope that the competent authorities in Algeria would take all necessary action in order to enable the refugees rapidly to return to their homesteads. After emphasizing that the problem of assistance to these refugees could, however, not be finally settled by repatriation, the representative of Tunisia expressed the hope that other refugee problems would also be solved with equal success.

98. The French representative said that his Government was happy to note that the Office of the High Commissioner was represented on the Tripartite Repatriation Commission. The French Government considered it essential that all those who were to return to their country should do so before 1 July, on which date they would have to decide on their future. It had supplied, and would continue to supply, the Tripartite Commission with the necessary material and financial resources. As a first instalment, it had made available NF 10 million (about $2 million), which it would supplement as necessary to meet the needs arising in the coming weeks.

99. The French Government thus hoped that the immediate problem of return would be solved very shortly and thought that it would be for the government emerging from the proposed elections to choose the means it desired to adopt for the resettlement of the refugees in their homes.

100. The United States representative recalled that since 1958 his country had supplied goods to a value of nearly $14 million, including cost of transport, to feed the refugees in Morocco and Tunisia. At the end of 1961, his government had remitted to UNHCR more than $1.75 million in cash. For 1962, it had continued its consignments of foodstuffs and had contributed $600,000. Since it appeared that the above amount would not be required for the current relief programme, his Government had suggested that the High Commissioner should use it to finance the repatriation programme. The United States would also supply foodstuffs and tents, as set forth in detail in the summary record of the sixty-second meeting.

101. The observer for Iraq expressed her gratitude for all the efforts made to assist the refugees from Algeria. The solution of that problem showed that the concept of refugee aid had now been enlarged and could be applied to any human being in distress, wherever he happened to be.

102. The observer for the Sovereign Order of Malta informed the Committee that, in response to the High Commissioner's request, the Order would take part in the repatriation programme by providing air transport for some of the equipment needed.

103. The representative of the League of Arab States said how much the Arab world appreciated the happy solution which had been found for the problem of the Algerian refugees.

104. The Committee noted with satisfaction the report submitted by the High Commissioner on assistance to refugees from Algeria. It noted that the Office of the High Commissioner was taking part in the work of the Tripartite Repatriation Commission and also the measures taken by the Office of the High Commissioner to facilitate the return of the refugees.

105. The Committee also noted that the High Commissioner would continue his action on behalf of these refugees in accordance with the provisions of resolution 1672 (XVI) adopted by the General Assembly at its sixteenth session and that he would submit, as soon as possible, in writing, to the members of the Committee, a budget for the repatriation of the refugees in question.

Material Assistance Programme for 1962 (new and revised projects) (item 15 of the agenda)

106. The Committee considered document A/AC.96/164, which concerns in particular the allocation of $75,000 for the implementation of assistance projects in Spain and Tunisia under the 1962 programme.

107. In reply to a question, the representative of the High Commissioner stated that negotiations were proceeding with the Spanish authorities with a view to the establishment of a comprehensive programme for non-settled refugees living in Spain, and that supporting contributions from government sources would be sought for the programme. The proposed project for annuities called for a substantial supporting contribution by the implementing agency.

108. The Executive Committee decided that, out of the amount of $110,000 which it had decided at its sixth session to earmark mainly for Tunisia and Spain, $20,000 should be allocated, as indicated in paragraph 6 of the report, for assistance projects in Tunisia and $55,000 for assistance projects in Spain.

109. The Committee approved the projects submitted by the High Commissioner in paragraphs 7-14 and 16-18 of the document. The Committee authorized the transfer of the balance of $35,000 to the Reserve described in paragraphs 169-171 of document A/AC.96/132. The Committee also adopted the proposal that project VAR/C/62 should be cancelled and the corresponding allocation of $24,000 transferred to the Reserve.

110. The Committee furthermore authorized the High Commissioner to withdraw from the Reserve the sum necessary to replenish, up to a ceiling of $30,000, the Special Public Information Fund to which reference is made in document A/AC.96/132, paragraph 170.

Programme allocations for 1963 (item 16 of the agenda)

111. The Committee considered document A/AC.96/162 in which the High Commissioner proposes allocations amounting to a total of $6.8 million for his 1963 programme.

112. The Chairman drew the Committee's attention to two important features of the report: the refugees' needs for assistance and the manner in which the High Commissioner was proposing to meet those needs.

113. The High Commissioner stressed the importance of the report, which contained an evaluation of the specific tasks yet to be accomplished, and indicated the principles by which he proposed to be guided in his work. This information would enable the General Assembly to take a decision on the future of the Office of the High Commissioner with a full knowledge of the facts and the Executive Committee to adopt directives for the guidance of the Office in preparing its plans. The High Commissioner recalled that the programme provided first of all for the implementation of the major aid projects for "old" refugees (i.e., refugees coming within his mandate on 31 December 1960), a complex task requiring co-ordinated action by the public authorities, voluntary agencies, the Office of the High Commissioner and other organizations.

114. At a time when the solution of this problem was in sight, it was essential that efforts should be redoubled, and the High Commissioner thought that it should be possible to collect the sum of about $5.4 million needed for this purpose.

115. Continuing needs which the High Commissioner might be called upon to meet after the final aid programme had been completed were of a different order of magnitude and required only relatively modest funds for the solution of new problems as they arose. For that purpose, the High Commissioner proposed a complementary assistance programme of $1.4 million.

116. With regard to the "classical" problem of refugees within the High Commissioner's mandate. It was estimated that the annual cost of assistance indispensable to supplement international protection would come to $700,000. This gesture of international solidarity would ease the burden borne by the countries of asylum.

117. The complementary assistance programme also covered the new groups of refugees referred to in document A/AC.96/158. In bringing assistance to them the High Commissioner had hitherto relied on his Emergency Fund and particularly on the proceeds of the UNRWA/UNHCR Stamp Plan. He had of course to reserve the right to launch special appeals to meet large-scale problems, as had been the case for refugees from Algeria. Being unable to multiply such appeals, the High Commissioner needed a regular source of income - estimated at $700,000 - to meet the situation he might be called upon to face. He would then be in a position to take effective action and to generate larger supplementary contributions from various other international and private sources.

118. The High Commissioner recalled moreover that the Emergency Fund should be held in reserve to enable him to act immediately when he had to meet new, unexpected and particularly urgent situations, or to guarantee the financing and continuity of relief action, as was already the case in the UNHCR/League of Red Cross Societies Joint Operation in Morocco and Tunisia.

119. The Director emphasized that it was mainly as a result of World Refugee Year and the economic expansion of many European countries that it was possible to foresee the early settlement of the problems of "old" refugees. Whereas the estimated cost for the final settlement of handicapped refugees was $25 million in 1960, today the cost of completing the major aid projects was estimated at $5,400,000. That sum included a grant-in-aid of $600,000 to the United Nations budget for the administrative expenses required for the implementation in 1963 of the final aid projects for "old" refugees and certain previous programmes.

120. He added that UNHCR should nevertheless carry on a limited programme in Europe so as to prevent the small but constant flow of new refugees from giving rise to a new problem, the solution of which could necessitate large-scale international assistance once again. With regard to assistance to new refugee groups, the High Commissioner had, as indicated in document A/AC.96/158, devised procedures which should make it possible for him, by means of a modest contribution on his part, to obtain large contributions from other sources. If the Committee approved the programme, the High Commissioner would submit more detailed information to it at its next session on the proposed allocations.

121. Most of the representatives who took part in the debate agreed with the High Commissioner's proposals for final aid projects for "old " refugees.

122. Some representatives pointed out that it would probably take two or three years to carry out some of the projects in the final aid programme: that raised the question of the prolongation of the Office of the High Commissioner, a matter on which they were unable to commit their Governments at this stage.

123. One representative observed that the sum of $5,400,000 required for the final aid projects for "old" refugees might appear rather high when contrasted with the estimate of $700,000 for the new refugee groups, especially as in some of the countries of residence of the "old" refugees the authorities appeared to be in a position henceforward to settle residual problems without international assistance. He also asked for information as to how the allocations proposed in paragraph 18 of the report were calculated.

124. The Director said that the extent of assistance necessarily varies between one country and another. In some countries of residence, only a project for counselling was required to enable refugees to obtain full benefit from the approved projects, whereas in others, important housing projects and installation grants were clearly essential for the settlement of the problems of "old" refugees.

125. The French representative pointed out that the number of handicapped refugees in France still in need of assistance was much higher than in the other countries of residence, as was clear from the table on page 5 of document A/AC.96/162. Furthermore, his delegation considered that the handicapped refugees who had hitherto been unable to establish themselves under the existing favourable conditions would not be any more successful in the future unless they received appropriate assistance. With regard to the programme for legal assistance, the French representative requested that detailed information about the number of beneficiaries and how they were subdivided by countries should be made available to the Committee at its next session.

126. Questions were also asked about the system of classification adopted in paragraph 14 of the report and the criteria used to establish whether a refugee was in the handicapped category. An account of those questions and of the replies given appears in the summary record of the replies given appears in the summary record of the sixtieth meeting.

127. With regard to the financing of the final aid programme for "old" refugees, several representatives recommended the High Commissioner to use all the uncommitted balances at his disposal and to appeal for private contributions, as well as for supporting contributions from the governments of the countries of residence. One of those representatives asked that the Committee should be informed of the amount of the uncommitted balances which could be used to finance the new programme.

128. In reply to questions asked by the representatives of France and the United Kingdom concerning the figure of $600,000 for administrative expenses which they felt was rather high, the representative of the High Commissioner said that that figure was $50,000 less than the allocation approved for 1962. Despite the administrative expenses entailed by the activities of the High Commissioner's Office under the good offices resolutions, it was hoped to reduce that item in coming years, as was explained in greater detail in paragraph 49 of document A/AC.96/162.

129. With regard to the programme for complementary assistance, most of the speakers in the debate approved the proposals and the methods and procedures set forth by the High Commissioner in chapter II of document A/AC.96/162. Some delegations expressed their satisfaction that the financial aid required of the High commissioner's Office was limited and that the High Commissioner intended mainly to stimulate action by governments and other organizations which were able to provide more substantial financial assistance.

130. Nevertheless, opinion in the Committee was divided on the methods of financing the current programme and particularly on the advisability of establishing one or two open funds.

131. Several delegations supported the views put forward in the High Commissioner's Report. One of these delegations stressed the advantages of establishing an Open Fund and pointed out that since the High Commissioner would no doubt often be called upon to intervene in new refugee situations, he must be able to give immediate assistance, in order to stimulate more substantial financial aid. That would also enable him to avoid making appeals too frequently.

132. Other representatives, however, felt that it would be better to use the Emergency Fund for assistance to new groups of refugees by proposing, if necessary, that the General Assembly should raise the ceiling of that fund, now set at $500,000.

133. The United Kingdom representative thought that any proposal which appeared likely to widen the High Commissioner's mandate should be considered most carefully. In exceptional situations it was always open to the High Commissioner to consult the Executive Committee.

134. The United States representative expressed the hope that the High Commissioner's Office would furnish more specific data concerning the expenditure envisaged in the framework of the current programme of complementary assistance; meanwhile, he was obliged to reserve his position with respect to that allocation.

135. The Director recalled that a thorough study had been made of the launching of appeals for new refugee problems. He pointed out that if the High Commissioner made an appeal for funds to enable him to assist some new refugee groups, he risked the possibility of becoming solely responsible for solving the problem, whereas his policy was to act as a catalyst.

136. In the course of the discussion, the representative of Yugoslavia asked the Committee to authorize the High Commissioner to consider the possibility of including an allocation for refugees in Yugoslavia in his future programmes.

137. At the end of the debate, the Committee also heard statements by the Vice-Chairman of the Governing Board of the International Council of Voluntary Agencies, by the representative of the International Conference of Catholic Charities and by the representative of the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions. These statements are summed up in the summary record of the sixty-first meeting.

138. In conclusion, the Executive Committee approved the report of the High Commissioner, taking into account the reservations made during the discussion. It was understood that the High Commissioner would remain in close consultation with more detailed information on the allocations proposed for 1963.

139. The Committee approved the allocation for the 1963 Programme proposed by the High Commissioner, in a total amount of $6,800,000 broken down as follows:

	United States dollars
Programme for the completion of major aid projects	5,400,000
Final major aid projects	4,800,000
Grant-in-aid for administrative expenses	600,000
Current programme for complementary assistance	1,400,000

140. The Committee approved the allocation of the $600,000 mentioned above as a grant-in-aid to the United Nations budget for administrative expenses in 1963 and adopted the suggestions contained in paragraph 49 of the document.

141. The Committee also adopted the proposals concerning the establishment of a current programme for complementary assistance set out under paragraphs 62-71 of the document under consideration, and authorized the High Commissioner to establish for this purpose a fund operating on a continuing basis. This programme would cover current requirements in 1963, estimated at $700,000, with regard to "classical" refugee problems and would include a similar amount to enable the High Commissioner to cope with new refugee situations.

142. The Committee further approved in principle the methods and procedures proposed by the High Commissioner in paragraphs 63 and 64 of the document.

ANNEX I Introductory statement by the High Commissioner to the seventh session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's programme

1. The documents now before the Executive Committee provide, I think, a fairly full and accurate general picture of the present activities of the High Commissioner's Office.

2. As you will have noted, the material is both varied and of topical interest. We are, in fact, passing through an eventful period; and these events are, of course, reflected in the activities of UNHCR, to which they impart their character and rhythm, bringing about a significant change in the working methods of the Office.

3. Last year I described for you in brief outline the situation as I saw it, with its basic elements and its two main features: the end of the major programmes of assistance to the refugees in Europe and the new problems of refugees outside Europe, which entail the introduction of some measure of flexibility into our usual working methods. From a theoretical assessment of the needs and the measures required for meeting those needs, we have now turned to the facts of the situation as set forth in the documents before you. As I promised, we have endeavoured to determine, on the one hand, what actually remains to be done and, on the other hand, the implications of this for the international community, in terms both of time and of money. The proposals in the programme for 1963 are, of course, based on the directives we have received from the Committee: they make no claim to provide a complete solution for every problem, but are designed to bring the assistance of the international community to bear on specific problems, in accordance with the ideas and methods worked out by the Committee and the Office of the High Commissioner during ten years of international co-operation.

4. As regards the new refugee problems, the General Assembly has, as you are aware, provided us with the means for limited but concrete action suited to the circumstances, With this end in view, it has made such minor alterations as were necessary in our administrative machinery. The "good offices" procedure, now part of UNHCR's normal activities, has introduced into the already long-established structure of the mandate an element of flexibility and dynamism which meets the requirements of the present situation. Being concerned solely with the refugees' needs, the "good offices" procedure has at the same time once again drawn attention to and stressed the specifically humanitarian nature of UNHCR's work. But these adjustments have in to sense extended the competence of the Office in any anarchical or unrestricted way, and UNHCR's essential task remains unchanged - to apply international protection, combined where necessary with adequate assistance as a means of contributing to the final solution of refugee problems by facilitating either the repatriation of the refugees in cases where they have freely agreed to this, or their admission to and complete assimilation in a new community. Thus, far from modifying the traditional functions of the Office, the purpose and effect of the Assembly's recent decisions has been to adapt the Office to the needs which it is now called upon to meet. Fundamentally, what is involved is a change in outlook, a more direct and pragmatic approach to the problems, so that they can be tackled from a new angle which is more in accordance with present realities. UNHCR's work is thus increasingly assuming the form of a continuous creative effort, the framework for which has been laid down by the various General Assembly resolutions, but the practical modalities of which have in some cases still to be determined, and will be determined in accordance with the conditions in which the work of the Office may have to develop.

5. The Executive Committee is and will continue to be our counsellor and guide both in making these progressive adjustments and in carrying out the Office's traditional tasks. That is what the General Assembly wished to reaffirm when it defined the part which the Committee will henceforth be called upon to play in carrying the good offices into effect. I for my part, Madam, cannot overstress the importance which we attach to thus having the constant benefit of the views of governments which have steadily maintained a direct and assiduous interest in the work of UNHCR.

6. We shall no doubt have to modify our methods of work somewhat in the light of these changes in order to adapt them to more fluid situations, in which, to be effective, action by UNHCR must in most cases be prompt. If, as is usually the case, the new refugee problems arise in economically underdeveloped countries, they are of greater urgency, and call for different, and certainly more rapid, action then was required in Europe. Our task is not merely to prevent these problems from coming to a head or getting out of hand, but, by prompt action, to save human lives which are in danger.

7. The procedure for the submission of projects and their approval by the Executive Committee has been evolving continuously since UNHCR was established. It is, I believe, in the evolutionary process thus dictated by experience that we should seek procedures flexible enough to reconcile our concern for efficiency with the Committee's function of direction and control. As regards more particularly such temporary emergencies as call for prompt but limited action by UNHCR, this objective could, it would seem, be achieved if the Committee were to lay down general directives in advance, to establish the limits, as it were, within which the Office would be authorized to act, and thereafter to check the application of those directives in the various sectors in which UNHCR is impelled by circumstances to act. I shall have occasion to revert to this subject, however, when the programme proposed for 1963 is discussed.

8. Last year, the Committee expressed its assent to the main features of the programme for 1963, as I outlined them at the time. As I have said, the aim was to take stock of the situation as it affected the "old refugees", to institute a plan for winding up the major programmes of assistance to those refugees, and to define the functions which the Office might have to continue discharging in respect of both old and new refugees. This meant that the problems first had to be arranged according to their nature, magnitude and duration, and according to the resources which would have to be applied for dealing with them. These considerations led us, in preparing plans for the coming year, to distinguish between, on the one hand, the final programme for the old refugees and, on the other hand, current needs in respect both of European or assimilated refugees (old or new) and of the refugees with whom the High Commissioner's Office has had to concern itself more recently, in Africa and Asia.

9. The effect of classification we have thus had to make was motivated by a concern both for clear presentation and for effective action adapted wherever possible to the special circumstances and needs of the particular refugee groups. When the General Assembly has to decide on the future of the High Commissioner's Office, it should be able, by means of this classification, to form as accurate as possible an idea of the tasks which still devolve upon the Office, as well as of the part which the Office might possibly play, in its own special field, if the international community decided to extend the mandate now entrusted to it. Such a decision can only be made with a full knowledge of the facts, that is to say, taking into account both present or foreseeable requirements and the services which the international community might reasonably expect from UNHCR should it decide to prolong its existence. Hence the programme proposed for 1963, in which an effort has been made to define the tasks which this Office might consider assuming in the near future, is of particular significance.

10. I have already had occasion, Mr. Chairman, to tell the Executive committee how much importance I attach to the maintenance of the spirit of international solidarity on which the success of UNHCR's humanitarian work depends. But in order that its enthusiasm may not flag, it must be presented with clear and reasonable objectives. This was what we had in mind when drawing up our plans for 1963. We were thinking, not only of the hardships to be relieved but of the limits assigned to the work of our Office. For you will agree, I am sure, that the international solidarity of which UNHCR is the instrument draws its strength from the search for a difficult but constant balance between the sacrifices imposed on certain countries by their admittance of refugees and the fair share in these sacrifices which the international community considers that it should assume.

11. Before concluding this brief preliminary statement, I should like to say a few words about the important work in which we have for some short time past been engaged: I refer to the repatriation of Algerian refugees in Tunisia and Morocco. This is a particularly exalting task since its purpose is, in this one instance at least, to dispose in a single action of one of the most difficult and distressing problems with which UNHCR has had to deal in recent years. The Tripartite Commissions, in which, as you know, I was invited to take part by the negotiators at Evian, are now at work, and a first group of refugees has already been brought from Morocco. All our efforts, combined with those of the League, which is working by our side, are of assistance to the Governments concerned and to the local authorities in carrying out their task of enabling these refugees to be returned to their homes in as orderly a way and as speedily as possible. I firmly hope that with the co-operation of all and the goodwill of the international community these operations can be successfully completed within the time-limits prescribed.

ANNEX II Statement by the deputy High Commissioner on report on new refugee situations

1. You have before you the Report on New Refugee Situations, document A/AC.96/158. This document gives an account of problems relating to groups of refugees other than those with which the Office of the High Commissioner is traditionally concerned, and in respect of which action by the High Commissioner's Office is based on a series of General Assembly resolutions, frequently briefly referred to as "Good Offices Resolutions".

2. The basic need in these new refugee situation is one of quick action and the provision of material assistance. Whenever the Office of the High Commissioner is seized with a new situation, it seeks to promote a general understanding of the problems involved and to encourage and enlist support from Governments and other organizations.

3. Over the last few years, various new problems have been brought to the attention of the High Commissioner. In this respect you will have realized that an evolution of methods and procedures has come about which enables the international community to assist in new refugee situations with efficiency and with the possibility of reaching a satisfactory solution of the problem in a relatively short time. The role of the Office of the High Commissioner has been, in many cases, only marginal, particularly as far as financial assistance is concerned. However, this role is essential for initiating the operation and bringing into it the various organizations required to solve a given problem.

4. I do not want to take up your time with what one might call the over-all philosophy of the High Commissioner's office towards this problem which you will have found in any case in the document before you and of which the High Commissioner, in his opening statement on Monday, gave you a brief outline. I would therefore like to limit my few further remarks to more factual statements on the latest developments concerning new refugee situations.

5. With regard to the refugees from Angola, apart from isolated areas where it has been found necessary to continue some temporary and limited relief measures, the problem has lost its emergency nature and the refugees are in the process of becoming established in the Republic of the Congo (Leopoldville). Our Chargé de Mission is at present working in close co-operation with the local representative of UNESCO, representatives of Missionary groups and with the competent authorities on the establishment of educational facilities for the refugee children.

6. The emergency relief programme for the refugees in Togo stated last month with the first ration distribution. In order to accelerate the plan for the long-term solution of the problem, the High Commissioner has appointed a Chargé de mission to the Republic of Togo, who assumed his duties last week.

7. With regard to the problem of refugees from Rwanda in Tanganyika, Uganda, Burundi and the Kivu Province of the Congo, the number of refugees in the respective countries is now higher than stated in the report before you.

8. Between 7,000 and 9,000 persons from Rwanda have arrived on Tanganyikan soil since September 1961. A number of them have settled down on their own initiative. Over 5,000 however, need assistance from the Government of Tanganyika to cover their basic needs. The Government has set up temporary camps and has provided food, shelter, medical assistance and some clothing. So far, the Tanganyikan Government has spent about $70,000 for assistance to this group of refugees. An encouraging start has been made to integrate as many as possible of these refugees among the local population. An area in northwest Tanganyika has been selected for this purpose. It is the intention to clear the reception camps as soon as possible and integrate all the refugees among the population. Although some supplementary food is being provided to the integrated refugees so that the full burden does not fall on the local population, it is hoped that refugees will earn their keep by working with and for the local inhabitants. Three weeks ago the High Commissioner - upon a recommendation from his Chargé de mission - made available an amount of $20,000 to the Tanganyikan Government to assist in the costs of maintaining the refugees.

9. Some 35,000 persons have crossed from Rwanda into Uganda since September 1961. Since then, an undetermined but not large number has returned to Rwanda. Others have found friends or relatives, or have been welcomed by the local population and do not depend on governmental assistance for the basic necessities of life. Others again have moved inland in search of employment. As at 1st May, 25,000 refugees were under the care of the authorities in Uganda. Of this number 10,000 have been settled in the Orichinga valley not far from the border between Rwanda and Uganda. At the moment another 1,000 refugees are awaiting resettlement in another area in Uganda, since the capacity of the Orichinga valley has been fully taxed with the existing resettlement scheme. There remain about 14,000 refugees in the border area. As the majority of them are cattle owners who crossed the border with cattle, a different type of land must be found for them by the authorities. The influx from Rwanda into Uganda is still continuing at present. The Uganda Administration has thus far spent almost $300,000 for assistance to the refugees from Rwanda.

10. As at 1st May, the Belgian Trusteeship Authority was providing assistance to over 38,000 refugees from Rwanda in Burundi. Some 13,000 are in the Usumbura area while others are scattered along the border between Rwanda and Burundi and in the eastern sector of Burundi. We understand that the Trusteeship Authority has spent some $170,000 on refugee relief in 1961. There is, however, an urgent need for some supplementary relief measures.

11. The foregoing information is based on the latest reports from the High Commissioner's Chargé de mission who has just returned after having extensively visited Tanganyika, Uganda, Burundi and also Rwanda itself.

12. Of the 60,000 refugees in Kivu Province, some 30,000-40,000 have been found in dire need of assistance. Under the co-ordination of the League of Red Cross Societies, a relief and resettlement programme is at present being carried out and UNHCR has recently earmarked a further $65,000 for this purpose, thus bringing the total funds earmarked for the Kivu Province up to $135,000.

13. In closing, I would also like to mention a recent development regarding Chinese refugees in Macao. The Committee will recall that at its last two sessions the observer for Portugal referred to a plan for the settlement of Chinese refugees in Macao, prepared by the Portuguese Government. A very comprehensive plan has been submitted by the Portuguese Government to this Office and I understand that a summary of this plan is now being distributed to members of the Committee at the request of the observer for Portugal. Here - as in all other refugee situations - any co-operation which the High Commissioner may be able to give will, of course, depend on the interest and goodwill of the international community.

ANNEX III Statements made at the end of the session

A. STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE PROBLEM OF CHINESE REFUGEES

Statement by the High Commissioner

The High Commissioner said that the recent large increase in the movement of Chinese refugees into Hong Kong had received wide publicity in the press and he had received a number of enquiries as to the action his Office was taking to relieve this human problem.

The High Commissioner recalled that in 1957 the General Assembly of the United Nations had adopted resolution 1167 (XII) in which it recognized "that the problem of Chinese refugees in Hong Kong is such as to be of concern to the international community". In the same resolution mention was made of the good offices of the High Commissioner. The High Commissioner informed the Committee that he was ready to undertake anything he could usefully do - however modest it might be - to alleviate the human plight of the refugees, in accordance with the wishes of the authorities directly responsible. He had discussed the problem with the British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Godber, and had outlined the possibilities open to his Office. Mr. Godber had agreed to advise his Government of the discussion.

Statement by the representative of China

The representative of China said that he had been instructed by his Government to make the following statement to the Committee: "The Government of the Republic of China are prepared to receive new Chinese refugees fleeing to Hong Kong according to their own wish, notwithstanding any difficulties.

"The Government of the Republic of China have decided to contribute 1,000 tons of rice to the Hong Kong Government for emergency relief of such refugees.

"The Government of the Republic of China are anxious to co-operate with other Governments particularly the Hong Kong Government and with international relief organisations in assisting these refugees.

"The Government of the Republic of China will appropriate funds for relief and resettlement of said refugees.

"The Government of the Republic of China have established a special committee to plan and execute these measures."

Statement by the representative of the Federal Republic of Germany

The Delegation of the Federal Republic of Germany wished to inform the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme that, since the beginning of 1961 the Federal Government had provided funds amounting to 350,000 deutschmarks, or 87,500 dollars, to welfare institutions for the care of refugees in Hong Kong. These amounts were provided in particular for medical assistance, education, and instruction purposes, and for the procuring of mobile canteens for feeding refugee children.

Statement by the Vice-Chairman of the Governing Body of the International Council of Voluntary Agencies

The Vice-Chairman of the Governing Body of the International Council of Voluntary Agencies stated that the organizations members of the Council wished to assist in solving the problems of Chinese refugees within the framework of resolution 1167(XII) of the General Assembly.

Statement by the representative of the United Kingdom

The representative of the United Kingdom said that the statements which had been made concerning the problem of Chinese refugees would be brought to the attention of his Government.

Statement by the representative of the United States

The representative of the United States said that his Government approved the action taken by the High Commissioner under his good offices function to encourage contributions towards the establishment of Chinese refugees in Macao.

Statement by the representative of Belgium

The representative of Belgium stated that the Belgian Government had earmarked part of its 1961 contribution to UNHCR to be used for the programme prepared by the Portuguese Government for the assistance of Chinese refugees in Macao.

B. OTHER STATEMENTS

Statement by the observer for the League of Arab States

The observer for the League of Arab States conveyed the gratitude of the Algerian refugees to Governments, the High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner for all that had been done to help solve the problem of these refugees. He expressed the wish that the Office of the High Commissioner would be maintained as the centre of co-operation for assistance to refugees.

Statement by the observer for the Council of Europe

The observer for the Council of Europe stated that his organization would continue to give its fullest support to the work of the Office of the High Commissioner.

Statement by the Chair

The Chair drew the attention of the Committee to the final report on the Joint UNHCR/UNRWA Stamp Plan which, thanks to the participation of 77 countries, had raised more than $1.5 million. She also drew attention to the detailed report on the utilization of the funds contributed buy the United Kingdom on the occasion of World Refugee Year.

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1 Except for some of the statistical data, which necessarily apply to the 1961 calendar year.

2 Resolutions 1167 (XII), 1388 (XIV), 1499 (XV) and 1673 (XVI).

3 Previously circulated under symbol A/AC.96/170.

4 Summaries of these statements may be found in the summary record of the 57th meeting.

5 The full text of this statement is reproduced in document A/AC.96/169.

6 The text to this statement is reproduced in Annex II to this report.

7 The Committee considered paragraphs 4 and 5 of the document A/AC.96/159, together with the question of Refugees Housing (item 17 of the agenda).

8 For a summary of these statements see the summary record of the sixty-first meeting.