Mr. Speaker. I rise to again express my strong support for this bill bit also to emphasize the need to use $7 million of the $12.5 million authorized for migration and refugee assistance in Africa as a contribution to the U.N. Development Program [UNDP] ICARA II trust fund. The House agreed to drop the earmark for this amount on the understanding that a contribution to ICARA II projects would be recommended by the Senate and that we would all emphasize to the administration the need for such a contribution. The second International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africaknown as ICARA IIwas held in Geneva in July 1984. At the Conference. some 112 host and donor nations participated in starting a process to help integrate refugee and development aid. to address thu immediate development needs created by refugees and displaced persons in Africa. UNDP was given a specific mandate at the Conference to provide refugee assistance in Africa and to maintain a clearinghouse for project formulation and coordination to meet the needs of refugees in Africa. The U.S. Government was instrumental in encouraging UNDP leadership in coordination and assistance for African refugees and therefore the Congress should allocate resources to complete this important policy direction. ICARA II projects are aimed at addressing the underlying causes of the ongoingand currently exacerbatedrefugee crisis in Africa. and to help establish a level of selfsufficiency and productivity among the refugee communities throughout Africa. The United States has offered a strong commitment to this approach which would not only improve the welfare of refugees. but also assist local population development by helping reduce relief assistance costs and undue drains on the host governments economies. Unfortunately this U.S. commitment on the principle has yet to translate into significant funding for ICARA II projects. Mr.
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Refugees refugee refugees