Speech #910320428

In doing so we are followingthe example of several governments. Turning to the different sections of the Operational Budget. let me start with National Migration. During recent years there have not been any substantial fluctuations in thenumber of national migrants. and it is expected that the desire to emigrate from Europe will follow much the same pattern in 1971. In our initial estimate for that year we have there" fore followed the trend of the past. Turning to our Refugee Programme. it is not possible to tell the whole story. for there are refugees in all corners of. the world. Although there is likely to be a slight downward trend in 1971. the numbei to be assisted by ICEM wilistill be very high compared to the middle nineteen sixties. Close to us we have large refugee groups In Italy. AuStria and the Federal Republic of Germany. but we are in fact concerned with refugees in all Western European countries and also in Yugoslavia. Further away there are the refugees in North Africa and the Middle East to seek to emigrate to or via Europe. .:At the present time we are specifically concerned with the accumulation of Cuban refugees in Spain. The problem there is twofold. The present visa possibilities are reduced. while at the same time the refugees there are reluctant to consider new destinations. Under these circumstances we have instituted a system of registration and counselling to* pronote emigration to Australia andLatin America. but it is too early to say anything.about the results. However. I think it is proper to express our appreciation for the generous asylum policy of the Spanish authorities and I wish to assure the Spanish representative of our continuing and untiring efforts to ease the refugee burden. Outside our traditional refugee programmes we are continuing our support to nonEuropean refugees for whom emigration possibilities exist but who are in need of assistance. Regarding Asia. I should inform you that the movemeni of Chinese refugees from Hong Kong is a continuing operation: The United States has recently decided to apply Section 7 of its Immigration Act to the Hong Kong area. which will increase the number to be assisted in 1971. The voluntary agencies will be heavily engaged in locating assurances of resettlement in the United States for these Chinese refugees. ICEM will be closely cooperating with the agencies on processing and movements. Also in Asia we are .Assisting in the movement of small groups of Tibetans from India and a few refugees from South Korea. There were also some UNHCR refugees moved from Africa to overseas destinations and a group of Haitian refugees moved to Europe. I should also mention that we recently received a request from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to assist his representative in arranging the repatriation of children who had left Nigeria during the disturbances there last year. and had found refuge in neighbouring countries. A senior staff member was sent to assist in the planning and carrying out of the transport operation. which is now in the implementation stage. A further refugee situation I should report on relates to displaced persons in El Salvador. These have become the concern of ICEM at the request of the Government of that country. and we have been discussing relief and rehabilitation programmes with the local authorities. One project calls for the setting up of a centre for the production of ceramics. in which displaced persons will be trained by in ICEMrecruited instructor from Europe.