Speech #980115742

Mr. President. there are an estimated 8 million refugees in the world today. Eight million people outside their native countries who are unable or unwilling to return to those countries because of persecution or a wellfounded fear of persecution on account of race. religion. nationality. membership in a particular social group. or political opinion. The numbers continue to climb year after year and there is no prospect for a decline in the near future. Many of the worlds refugees live in squalid conditionsin camps where sanitation is poorly maintained. food and adequate shelter are scarce. and disease and sickness are pervasive. The situation is troubling. and despite international contributions and organizations dedicated to improving the plight of refugees. the outlook for the future in the camps is grim. All possible avenues ought to be pursued to see that every possible opportunity to improve the lot of refugees are seized. One case that presents such an opportunity is when there are countries willing to resettle refugees. In these instances. the refugees ought to be processed in the country of asylum as quickly as possible. the numbers in the camps would drop. and those resettled could begin new lives in new homes. Unfortunately. some governments of the countries of asylum are sometimes lax about cooperating with the refugee program. Many of these governments receive U.S. aid and this resolution would let them know that we are concerned about refugees and that we are anxious that these governments cooperate fully in processing refugees. Mr. President. this proposal will not turn the refugee problem around. but if it helps just a few individuals. it will prove well worthwhile. Mr. President. there are 8 million refugees in the world today. Some of them are lucky enough to have third countries which are willing to take them. But this amendment simply urges our State Department to let governments receiving U.S. aid know we are concerned about refugees who have third countries to go to in particular. and we are anxious for these governments to cooperate fully in the processing of these refugees. Again we are talking here about refugees who have a place to go. It would seem this is the minimum we can do to expedite the necessary relocation of 8 million or so refugees who are in the world. some of whom again do have homes that are open to them in Third World countries.