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United Nations
Report of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees
General Assembly
Official Records : Seventeenth Session
Supplement No.11 (A/5211/Rev.1)
United Nations, New York, 1962
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 guide-lines which he feels he should follow in carrying out his humanitarian task.
3. During the period under review (1 April 1961-31 March 1962[1]1), 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 favorable 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 favorable 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;
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 1January-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 program, 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 Togoless 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 RUANDA
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 neighboring 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;
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 I Over-all statistics
Table I DISTRIBUTION OF REFUGEES PRESUMED TO BE WITHIN THE MANDATE OF UNHCR AS AT 31 DECEMBER 1961
Table II GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE REFUGEE SITUATION IN CERTAIN EUROPEAN COUNTRIESa FROM 1 JANUARY TO 31 DECEMBER 1961
a Austria, France, Germany, Greece and Italy.
Table III DISTRIBUTION OF NON-SETTLED REFUGEES IN CERTAIN AREAS AS AT 1 JANUARY 1961 AND 31 DECEMBER 1961
a Including new Hungarian refugees.
b Including 10,700 qualifying for assistance under the UNHCR camp clearance programme.
c Including 5,725 qualifying for assistance under the UNHCR camp clearance scheme.
d Revised figure.
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.
ANNEX III Refugees presumed to be within the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees transported by the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration 1 January-31 December 1961
ANNEX IV Break-down of non-settled refugees in certain countries as at 1 January 1962 (Provisional estimates)
Note : Three dots (…) indicate that figure are not available.
a United States Escapee Programme.
b Indentified cases only.
c Lebanon and United Arab Republic.
d Excluding Spain and Tunisia.
ANNEX V Income and promises for 1961 a (Expressed in US dollars)
a For a complete summary of governmental contributions to UNHCR, reference should be made to document A/AC.96/163 (Provisional financial statements for voluntary funds administered by UNHCR). For details of private do nations and promises, see document A/AC.96/161 (Notes on status of contributions to UNHCR as at 31 December 1961).
ANNEX VI Over-all analysis of the UNREF and UNHCR programmes as at 31 December 1961 CONSOLIDATED NUMBER OF ACTUAL BENEFICIARIESa BY COUNTRY OR AREA AND STAGE OF SETTLEMENT
Note : there dots (…) indicate that figures are not available.
a Not including beneficiaries of supplementary aid and language training projects only.
b Refugees considered firmly settled who at one time benefited under UNHCR projects, but whose firm establishment is not a direct consequence thereof, and further refugees benefiting at one time under UNHCR projects, in respect of whom assistance was discontinued prior to '' firm settlement '',
APPENDIX Report on the seventh session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme (Geneva, 14-22 May 1962)[3]a
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;
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 point