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United Nations
Report of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees
General Assembly
Official Records: Twelfth Session
Supplement No.11 (A/3585/Rev.1)
United Nations, New York, 1957
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCTION
1. The present report refers to the activities of my Office between May 1956 and May 1957. The main items covered are the problem of Hungarian refugees, the international protection of refugees and the programme of the United Nations Refugee Fund.
2. In accordance with the provisions of its Statute, the activities of the Office have been based on the principle that its work should be of an entirely non-political character, but humanitarian and social, and its duty is to provide international protection and promote permanent solutions for refugees to help them to resume a normal life.
3. The greatest problem which arose during the past year was the emergency caused by the influx of new refugees from Hungary into Austria and Yugoslavia. By the end of April, the number of these refugees had exceeded 190,000.[1] The General Assembly entrusted to my Office the task of co-ordinating emergency relief and of appealing, jointly with the Secretary-General, for financial assistance and the granting of resettlement opportunities to the Hungarian refugees. In dealing with this emergency, the main object of the Office has been to ensure that the refugees were provided with food and accommodation and given resettlement opportunities and that, at the same time, the Governments which had first granted them asylum were relieved of the disproportionate burden they had assumed. The League of Red Cross Societies undertook to meet, to a considerable extent, the operational needs of the emergency in Austria and, through the Yugoslav Red Cross, to supply the basic needs of the Hungarian refugees in Yugoslavia, while the resettlement of the refugees was largely organized by the Inter-Governmental Committee for European Migration. As a result of the combined efforts of Governments, international and inter-governmental organizations and voluntary agencies working for refugees, about 142,0001 of these refugees have been resettled in countries of second asylum. Moreover, emergency relief and care and maintenance have to a large measure been assured, although a considerable burden is still borne by the countries which first gave asylum to these refugees.
4. It is, nevertheless, anticipated that some Hungarian refugees will remain in Austria and will have to be integrated with international assistance in that country. Until further resettlement opportunities can be found for them, a certain number will also remain in Yugoslavia.
5. The international protection of refugees, which is one of the principal tasks entrusted to my Office under the terms of its Statute, has been continued and intensified. The Office has focused its main attention in this field on promoting the admission of refugees to countries of asylum and resettlement; on facilitating, in the case of those who wish to return to their country, repatriation and ensuring that their decision is in fact a voluntary one; on safeguarding their rights, improving their conditions of residence and legal status; on facilitating their travel and on assisting them to become naturalized so that they may enjoy the full rights of citizens.
6. These tasks have increased owing to the Hungarian refugee emergency. Repatriation missions visited the countries of asylum. In all cases, a representative of the Office accompanied these missions and acted as a neutral observer. To speed up the resettlement of the Hungarian refugees, a certain number of Governments agreed, at my request, to waive the normal selection criteria. In most countries these refugees have been granted special facilities with regard to the right of access to employment.
7. At the time of writing, the UNREF programme had made considerable progress. Projects for permanent solutions, the settlement of difficult cases and emergency aid in an amount of $6,154,118 are being implemented, and some 30,000 refugees are benefiting from the programme. This number would have been greater if all the projects in the Plans of Operations for 1955 and 1956 could have been implemented according to plan. The delay in implementation was due to the shortfall in governmental contributions to the Fund of approximately $2,700,000 for the years 1955 and 1956, to the influx during 1956 of a considerable number of new refugees, and to technical difficulties inherent in the carrying out of the programme.
8. The emphasis of the programme has been placed on the reduction of the camp population and, to this end, a major proportion of the funds available has been allocated to housing projects in Austria and Germany, where a relatively high proportion of refugees live in camps.
9. To ascertain how the objectives of the programme can best be reached, a reappraisal of the programme is being submitted for the consideration of the UNREF Executive Committee at its fifth session. The decisions taken by the Committee in this connexion will be found in the report on its fifth session, which is contained in annex II to the present report.
10. No mention is made in the present report of resolution 727 (VIII), under the terms of which the General Assembly decided to review, not later than at its twelfth session, the arrangements for the Office after 31 December 1958. At the request of certain Governments, this question was placed on the provisional agenda of the fifth session of the UNREF Executive Committee. The Committee’s views are contained in its report, which may be found in annex II below.
11. The recommendation of the Executive Committee that the General Assembly should take into account the problem of the Chinese refugees in Hong Kong when considering the future arrangements for the Office may be found in paragraph 107 of the report on its fourth session (annex I below).
Chapter I THE PROBLEM OF HUNGARIAN REFUGEES
A. Summary of the problem and results achieved
GENERAL REMARKS
12. In the following sections a description is given of the state of the problem of Hungarian refugees on 1 May 1957 and the action taken by my Office to implement the resolutions of the General Assembly. An account is then given of action taken in Austria and Yugoslavia. Finally, an analysis is made of the special problem of unattached youth and of the eligibility of Hungarian refugees under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.
13. The problem of Hungarian refugees was considered by the General Assembly at its second emergency special session and at its eleventh regular session. It adopted three resolutions (1006 (ES-II),1129 (XI) and 1039 (XI), under which it entrusted to my Office the tasks of making appeals to meet the needs of the Hungarian refugees, of co-ordinating the provision of emergency aid and of preparing a comprehensive assessment of their needs.
14. On 28 October 1956, the first considerable number of refugees from Hungary arrived in Austria. On 4 November, the rate of influx increased sharply and it is estimated that, by the following day, 10,000 Hungarian refugees had crossed the frontier. The peak of the influx was reached during the week of 20 to 26 November, during which more than 46,000 Hungarian refugees arrived in Austria. By 1 May 1957, the total influx into Austria had amounted to approximately 174,000. Hungarian refugees also entered Yugoslavia from the end of October 1956, but the influx only assumed large proportions in the second week in January 1957. By 1 May 1957, a total number of 19,067 Hungarian refugees had entered Yugoslavia. The total influx up to 1 May 1957 into both Austria and Yugoslavia thus amounted to about 193,000.[2] As of the same date, it is estimated by the Austrian Government that there were about 35,300 Hungarian refugees remaining in Austria, while in Yugoslavia there remained 14,305 refugees in camps or centres.
RESETTLEMENT
15. The resettlement of Hungarian refugees from Austria has been organized by Governments in most cases with the help of the Inter-Governmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM). The Yugoslav Government has also recently authorized officials of the Migration Committee to operate in Yugoslavia within the framework of the activities of my provisional Branch Office. Details of Hungarian refugees admitted to countries of second asylum are given in the table contained in paragraph 20 below.
16. The response of countries of asylum, particularly European countries, to the requirements of the emergency in Austria was immediate and effective. The mass evacuation of Hungarian refugees successfully reduced the strain on Austria and is largely responsible for the fact that a solution of the whole Hungarian refugee problem is now almost in sight.
REPATRIATION
17. Repatriation missions from Hungary have visited camps and centres throughout Austria and Yugoslavia to interview refugees seeking repatriation. An observer from my Office has been present during these interviews to ensure that the refugees are given complete freedom of decision and are not subjected to any form of pressure. In Yugoslavia, refugees whose repatriation is being arranged are assembled in one centre and my observer again attends to ensure that any refugee wishing to change his decision and remain in Yugoslavia is permitted to do so.
18. Up to 1 May 1957, 4,470 Hungarian refugees had been repatriated directly from Austria and 2,222 from Yugoslavia. In addition, it is estimated that about 2,800 Hungarian refugees had been repatriated from countries of second asylum.
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS
19. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 1039 (XI) of 23 January 1957, I submitted to the UNREF Executive Committee at its fourth session a comprehensive assessment of the needs of the Hungarian refugees in both Austria and Yugoslavia. The estimates of future expenditure contained in these documents were noted with appreciation by the Committee, which authorized me, in consultation with the Secretary-General, to use them as the basis for any further appeals that we might consider necessary.
JOINT APPEALS WITH THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
20. Two appeals have been issued by my Office, in consultation with the Secretary-General, under General Assembly resolution 1129 (XI) of 21 November 1956. These appeals have covered not only financial contributions but also resettlement offers. The following table shows both the results of the financial appeal and the numbers of refugees who left Austria and Yugoslavia for countries of second asylum up to 1 May 1957. Subsequent repatriations or movements to other countries of asylum are not accounted for in this table.
a For overseas destinations, and for Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Turkey, figures are departures from Austria recorded by LIEM. For other countries, ICEM figures are combined with data on arrivals supplied by the various national authorities.
b Departures reported by Yugoslav Government.
c Promised but not yet paid.
d Estimated value of promised contributions in kind.
e Including 863 refugees transported via Netherlands.
f Excluding profit on exchange of $ 78.235.86
g Excluding 2,003 refugees in transit to Canada.
21. In addition to the financial contributions promised or paid to the Secretary-General or to my office, it is known that governmental contributions amounting to $8,491,160 have been promised or paid directly to the Austrian Government. This figure includes $7,692,310 anticipated net proceeds from the sale of United States agricultural surpluses.
FINANCIAL POSITION
22. Up to 1 May 1957, the Secretary-General had paid $500,000 directly to the Austrian Government, and my Office had paid, committed or reserved, a total amount of $6,366,263.11, broken down as follows:
23. As of 1 May 1957, the uncommitted balance of funds received by my Office amounted to $4,005.06 (excluding profit on exchange) and contributions promised but not yet received (including the estimated value of contributions in kind) amounted to $2,774,706.
24. It was estimated by my Office, as of 1 May 1957, that the outstanding balance of expenditures for Hungarian refugees by the Austrian Government up to 31 December 1957 would amount to $993,415. The outstanding balance of the Yugoslav Government up to the end of 1957 is estimated at $7,191,500. A permanent solutions programme in the amount of $4,500,000 for Hungarian refugees remaining in Austria is being submitted for approval to the UNREF Executive Committee at its fifth session.
B. Hungarian refugees in Austria
CO-ORDINATION OF EMERGENCY AID
25. Emergency aid supplied by the League of Red Cross Societies and the voluntary agencies was of the greatest importance in the reception of refugees in the area of the Austro-Hungarian frontier. Supplementary assistance was also given by many agencies to refugees both in camps and in private accommodations. Food, clothing, blankets and medical supplies were delivered in large quantities at a cost believed to amount to several million dollars. Within Austria, my Branch Office co-ordinated the efforts of the many voluntary agencies in conjunction with the Austrian Ministry of the Interior. The co-ordination of this international effort was effected by my Office in Geneva. A special co-ordinating committee was set up, including representatives of the International Red Cross, the League of Red Cross Societies, the Inter-Governmental Committee for European Migration, the administration of the United States Escapee Programme (USEP) and the voluntary agencies working for refugees.
ACCOMMODATION
26. In order to provide emergency accommodation for the Hungarian refugees, the Austrian Government has been compelled to adapt large numbers of disused buildings at a considerable cost. Refugees have also been accommodated by Austrian provincial governments and voluntary agencies in hotels, boarding houses and similar institutions. Donations from the fund organized by the Lord Mayor of London and from the United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland enabled 14,500 Hungarian refugees to be lodged in such accommodation when the emergency was at its peak.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
27. The responsibility for providing care and maintenance to the Hungarian refugees fell in the first place on the Austrian Government. During November 1956, however, the League of Red Cross Societies undertook to provide part of the care and maintenance needs of 20,000 refugees. From 15 December 1956, the League assumed the responsibility for providing food, clothing and first aid for Hungarian refugees in designated camps. This commitment has been progressively extended, with some financial assistance from my Office, to cover all camps with accommodation for more than 500 refugees. For the period from 1 July to 30 September 1957, this responsibility will be taken over by the Austrian Red Cross, assisted by the League of Red Cross Societies.
28. Although my Office made an initial contribution of $413,000 and has subsequently held the sum of $1 million in reserve in case the resources of the League of Red Cross Societies should prove insufficient, the great majority of the expense entailed in the League’s care and maintenance operation has been borne by the League itself and the national Red Cross societies. The funds required came mostly from public appeals in many countries. The League of Red Cross Societies has thus proved itself to be capable of meeting the operational needs of a refugee emergency and also of channelling popular support in many countries to the care of refugees.
LONG-TERM NEEDS
29. Besides the basic needs for accommodation and care and maintenance, there are certain other needs of the Hungarian refugees which have had to be met. In particular, it has been found essential to withdraw unattached young refugees from the social and moral dangers of camp life while they are awaiting emigration or integration. To meet such needs the UNREF Executive Committee, at its fourth session, approved the use of $290,000 for long-term projects, to which the sum of $100,000 was subsequently added. Under these projects, counsellors are being provided to assist Hungarian refugees, case-workers are dealing with unattached refugee youth, scholarships are being given for young refugees and a preliminary study is being made of a housing programme.
30. A special programme designed both to meet the long-term needs of refugees awaiting emigration, particularly young refugees, and to assist the integration of those refugees who wish to remain in Austria or who cannot be resettled in other countries, is being submitted to the UNREF Executive Committee at its fifth session. Under this proposed programme, which will cost $4,500,000, aid will be supplied to special groups, including youths, university students and intellectuals, and accommodation will be provided by the adaptation of existing buildings and by the construction of new houses.
C. Hungarian refugees in Yugoslavia
ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROVISIONAL BRANCH OFFICE
31. On 21 December 1956, the Yugoslav Government requested my Office for financial assistance in dealing with the problem of Hungarian refugees. On 28 December, it stated that it would be prepared to receive a representative of my Office who might wish to acquire direct information on the needs of the refugees. A member of my Office visited Yugoslavia from 8 to 21 January 1957.
32. On 11 February 1957, the Yugoslav Government stated that it would agree to the establishment of a provisional Branch Office in Belgrade, to be maintained during the emergency brought about by the influx of Hungarian Refugees. The functions of the provisional Branch Office, which was opened on 15 February 1957, are to promote the resettlement of Hungarian refugees and to co-ordinate arrangements for the distribution of emergency assistance.
33. The Yugoslav Government has authorized officials of ICEM and representatives of a number of international voluntary agencies to operate in Yugoslavia within the framework of the activities of my provisional Branch Office with a view to giving supplementary assistance and to facilitating the resettlement of the refugees.
CO-ORDINATION OF EMERGENCY AID
34. Emergency aid is being supplied to Hungarian refugees in Yugoslavia by the Yugoslav Red Cross and by the voluntary agencies, whose representatives are operating within the framework of the activities of my provisional Branch Office. The distribution of relief supplies is carried out by the Yugoslav Red Cross under the direction of a special co-ordinating committee, with my representative as Chairman and including representatives of the Yugoslav Government and the Yugoslav Government and the Yugoslav Red Cross.
ACCOMMODATION
35. The Yugoslav Government accommodated the Hungarian refugees partly in camps and centres and partly in tourist hotels which were empty during the winter. These hotels, however, have had to be emptied for the tourist season, and existing centres have been expanded and new centres prepared. Considerable costs have been incurred, both for the adaptation and furnishing of centres and also for the readaptation of the hotels from which the refugees had been moved.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
36. The League of Red Cross Societies has made a very considerable contribution towards the cost of care and maintenance borne by the Yugoslav Government. In consultation with my Office, it has been arranged that the League of Red Cross Societies will provide from 1 March to 30 September 1957 basic food, clothing and medical supplies for up to 17,000 refugees, distribution being undertaken by the Yugoslav Red cross. It is estimated that the contributions of the League of Red Cross Societies during this period, supplemented by assistance through the voluntary agencies, will save approximately $500,000 to the Yugoslav Government.
Chapter II SPECIAL EMERGENCIES
37. At its fourth session, the UNREF Executive Committee established an emergency reserve of $50,000 to be used by my Office in unforeseen circumstances pending the possibility of consulting member governments of the Executive Committee on such further measures, as the circumstances might require.
38. As a result of the events which took place in the middle East at the beginning of 1957, a number of persons left Egypt for certain countries of temporary asylum in Europe, where they are now regarded as coming under the mandate of my Office. The cost of their care and maintenance proved a considerable burden to the Governments of these countries and to the voluntary agencies which gave assistance.
39. I consequently made a first contribution of $30,000 to the voluntary agency mainly responsible for this assistance and a second contribution of $42,105 out of further funds which were placed at my disposal for this purpose by one Government.
Chapter III INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION
A. International instruments affecting refugees
1951 CONVENTION RELATING TO THE STATUS OF REFUGEES
40. Since May 1956, the following States have ratified the 1951 Convention: the Republic of Ireland on 30 November 1956 and Liechtenstein on 8 March 1957.
41. Ireland and Liechtenstein have both, in accordance with article 1 B of the Convention, declared that the words: "Events occurring before 1 January 1951" shall mean "events occurring in Europe or elsewhere before 1 January 1951".
42. In addition, the Government of Morocco made a declaration to the Secretary-General, on 7 November 1956, to the effect that it assumed the obligation arising out of the ratification of the 1951 Convention by the French Government and that it considered itself, therefore, a party to the Convention.
43. The following twenty-one States are therefore now parties to the Convention: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ecuador, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Holy See, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
44. The Government of the United Kingdom made a declaration to the Secretary-General, on 24 October 1956, to the effect that application of the Convention would extend, with certain reservations, to the following territories: British Solomon Islands Protectorate, Cyprus, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, Kenya, Mauritius, St. Vincent, Seychelles, Somaliland Protectorate, St. Helena and Zanzibar.
CONVENTION ON THE DECLARATION OF DEATH OF MISSING PERSONS
45. The Secretary-General has drawn up a Protocol extending the period of validity of the Convention on the Declaration of Death of Missing Persons which expired on 23 January 1957 for a further period of ten years. The Protocol has so far been signed by the Governments of Israel and Pakistan and came into force, upon the latter signature, on 22 January 1957.
CONVENTION RELATING TO THE STATUS OF STATELESS PERSONS
46. The Government of Norway ratified this Convention on 19 November 1956. Norway is the second country to ratify the Convention, which requires six ratifications or accessions in order to come into force.
UNIVERSAL COPYRIGHT CONVENTION
47. During the period under review, the following additional States ratified or acceded to Protocol No. 1 to the Universal Copyright Convention which provides for the assimilation of stateless persons and refugees resident in a contracting State to nationals of that State for the purposes of the Convention: Liberia, on 27 April 1956; Portugal, on 25 September 1956; Ecuador, on 5 March 1957; Cuba, on 18 March 1957; and Austria on 2 April 1957.
CONVENTIONS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE
48. The following additional ratifications took place: on 3 April 1956, Belgium ratified the European Interim Agreement on Social Security other than Schemes for Old Age, Invalidity and Survivors, and the European Interim Agreement on Social Security Schemes relating to Old Age, Invalidity and Survivors, including the Protocols applying these instruments to refugees; on 7 May 1956, these instruments were also ratified by the Federal Republic of Germany.
49. The European Convention on Social and Medical Assistance, together with the Protocol applying this Convention to refugees, was ratified by Belgium on 24 July 1956, and by the Federal Republic of Germany on 24 August 1956.
50. The ratification by Germany of the above three instruments has since been extended to apply to West Berlin.
B. Admission and expulsion
51. By a decree published on 29 December 1956, the Government of Argentina modified its previous legislation regarding immigration, and established a new procedure to legalize the status of aliens who have entered the country illegally. It is anticipated that this decree will benefit not only refugees who are already in that country and who need to regularize their position, but also those wishing to immigrate to Argentina.
DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY
52. The procedure for the determination of eligibility of refugees instituted by the Austrian Government in February 1956 has remained in force. This procedure could not be applied to the Hungarian refugees, approximately 174,000[3] of whom entered Austria between October 1956 and 1 May 1957. A special registration card was issued to these refugees by the Austrian authorities, who agreed that, in view of the circumstances in which refugees in this group had left their country of origin, they would be considered as coming within the terms of article 1 of the 1951 Convention, unless it were proved otherwise. This arrangement enabled the Austrian authorities to carry out the registration of the large number of new refugees without delay.
53. Those among the new Hungarian refugees who remain in Austria will be required to register and will be documented in the same way as other refugees in Austria.
54. Besides the Hungarian refugees, the number of refugees who entered Austria during 1956 showed a considerable increase compared with previous years. Approximately 5,000 refugees sought asylum in Austria during 1956; the figures for the preceding four years had been in the region of 2,000 annually.
55. During 1956, my Branch Office in Belgium received 10,900 applications for recognition of refugee status, compared with 3,000 during 1955. Only 200 of these requests were made by newly arrived refugees; the remainder were received from refugees sur place. This marked increase can be attributed, firstly, to the decision published by the Belgian Government that refugees claiming the benefits of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees had to be declared eligible by my Branch Office and, secondly, to the new German indemnification laws for victims of Nazi persecution, which require refugee applicants to produce an eligibility certificate in order to qualify for certain benefits.
56. In the Federal Republic of Germany, the procedure is still in force whereby refugees who entered Germany after 1 July 1950 have to apply for recognition to a Federal Recognition Board. Decisions of the Board are subject to revision. In the case of negative decisions by the Appeals Board, the matter may be brought before the Administrative Court at Ansbach, against decisions of which it is possible to appeal to the higher administrative courts in Munich and Berlin.
57. In the course of 1956, 2,275 applications for admission to refugee status were considered, in addition to a certain number of applications submitted in the previous year. These applications concerned a total of 3,363 persons, 813 of whom were determined to be eligible and 680 ineligible, while applications from 1,870 persons were eliminated for miscellaneous reasons.
58. The need is felt in Germany for increased legal assistance to individual refugees in submitting applications for eligibility and in dealing with the complicated procedure for appeals.
59. The figures quoted above do not include the Hungarian refugees who were granted asylum in Germany between October and 31 December 1956. These refugees were registered at transit centres, where they were interviewed, provisionally recognized as refugees under the terms of the 1951 Convention, and issued with a certificate to this effect, valid for four months. When they acquire a fixed place of residence, the Hungarian refugees have to apply for recognition of their status in writing, but do not have to appear before the Eligibility Board. Those determined eligible are granted all the rights provided for by the 1951 Convention.
60. In Germany, the problem of illegal entrants from countries of second asylum to which attention was drawn in previous reports has become less acute. Efforts were made with the help of the voluntary agencies, the USEP administration, and the German authorities to solve the small number of cases which arose during 1956 through emigration and integration. My representative in Germany is endeavouring to have the legal status of these refugees clarified.
61. In view of the large number of requests from refugees in France for certificates of eligibility to support their claims for indemnification as victims of Nazi persecution, the task of establishing requests for such certificates has been entrusted to the Ministère des anciens combattants et victimes de guerre, which transmits the requests to the competent eligibility authority.
62. Since October 1956, spouses and minor children of eligible Spanish refugees resident in France are also considered by the Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides as refugees according to the Convention, following the principle of family unity.
63. In Italy, there was a considerable increase during 1956, particularly during the second half of the year, in the influx of new refugees, reaching an average of approximately 1,000 per month; there was, consequently, an increased number of applications for refugee status.
64. In addition, a considerable number of victims of Nazi persecution have applied to my Branch Office in Italy to be recognized as refugees, in order to benefit under the German laws on indemnification.
65. During 1956, the joint Eligibility Commission examined 1,198 cases in Rome, of which 850 were declared 108 ineligible, 234 were held in suspense and six referred to the Plenary Commission. In Trieste and Udine, of 3,303 cases examined by the Eligibility Commission, 2,833 were declared eligible and 470 ineligible; in Cremona, of 896 cases examined, 816 were declared eligible and eighty ineligible.
66. As reported above, the Government of Morocco has assumed the obligations arising form the ratification of the 1951 Convention by the French Government, and considers itself a party to that Convention. Under the terms of an agreement concluded between the Moroccan Government and my Office on 7 November 1956, the Government has assumed responsibility for the refugees within its territory. An Office for Refugees and Stateless Persons, which determines eligibility and delivers eligibility certificates and travel documents to refugees, has been established in Morocco by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. An Appeals Board, consisting of a representative of the Ministry of Justice and my honorary representative at Rabat, has also been set up to consider appeals against eligibility decisions taken by the Office for Refugees and Stateless Persons. My honorary representative acts as adviser to the Moroccan Government on refugee matters in general.
67. In the Netherlands, a Royal Decree containing regulations for the recognition of the eligibility of refugees and regulating expulsion was issued on 10 January 1957. During 1956, my Branch Office in the Netherlands issued 865 certificates of eligibility, entitling the holders to the benefits of the 1951 Convention.
68. In Greece, refugees entering the country illegally are first interviewed and then placed in a reception centre for a period of approximately three weeks while a security check is made. If the results are satisfactory, refugee status is granted, otherwise the refugees are brought to trial and, if they wish, provided with a defending lawyer by the Greek Red Cross.
69. No decision of a Greek court is valid unless it is signed by both prosecuting and defending lawyer. The UNHCR Branch Office in Athens is allowed to send a representative to attend such trials as observer.
EXPULSION
70. In Austria, domiciliary bans are now imposed only if a refugee has committed a criminal offence. This penalty is no longer imposed in cases of illegal frontier crossing.
71. In the Federal Republic of Germany, the practice continues of issuing expulsion orders to refugees who have entered the country illegally from another country of asylum, and to refugees who, because of criminal activities, are considered a threat to the security of the country. These expulsion orders, however, are seldom put into effect. For this reason, a proposal has been made, on the basis of a recent court decision, that expulsion orders should no longer be issued unless they can actually be implemented. My representative is endeavouring to obtain prior notification from the German authorities in all such cases.
72. The Appeals Committee in France has in the past been considered competent by the Ministry of the Interior only in respect of appeals against expulsion. By a decision of 21 December 1956, the Ministry of the Interior recognized the Appeals Committee competent also to consider appeals against measures taken in lieu of expulsion such as assigned residence.
73. In Luxembourg, a procedure has been agreed between the Luxembourg Government and my Branch Office whereby no refugee is expelled without prior consultation with my representative.
C. Rights of refugees in their countries of residence
RIGHT TO WORK
74. The Austrian Government, when it ratified the 1951 Convention, made a reservation to the effect that article 17, paragraphs 1 and (a) should be considered as recommendations. My Office has been in continuous contact with the Austrian authorities in this matter. As a result of administrative measures taken by the Austrian Government, the following categories of refugees have now been exempted from the requirement of an employment permit in order to take up paid employment: Volksdeutsche refugees; refugees who have been resident for three or more years in Austria; refugees whose spouse or children have Austrian nationality; and refugees who entered Austria during the last three years with the consent of the Austrian authorities for the purpose of family reunion.
75. Other categories of refugees still require employment permits, but the local authorities have been instructed to issue such permits upon application to refugees eligible under the 1951 Convention, so that they may be enabled to take advantage of employment opportunities on the same terms as Austrian nationals. This treatment also applies to the newly-arrived Hungarian refugees.
76. In France, the measures previously reported for the liberalization of access to employment for refugees continue to prove satisfactory. During their first year of residence, newly-arrived Hungarian refugees are given special facilities and are issued with a card entitling them to work in their profession in the department where they are resident. For their second year of residence, this entitlement is extended to the whole of France. After three years’ residence, they will be authorized to exercise any profession in any part of France.
77. The Italian authorities grant work and residence permits to refugees included in UNREF projects for integration into the local economy in Italy.
78. Furthermore, the Italian Government has agreed, with certain reservations, to apply to provisions of article 17 of the 1951 Convention to refugees who, on 27 March 1957, were living out of camps in Italy and who otherwise fulfilled the conditions laid down in this article. The Italian Government has also agreed to grant to these refugees facilities for access to self-employment.
EDUCATION
79. In Argentina, as a result of steps taken by my representative for Latin America, the University of Buenos Aires has decided that the validity of professional diplomas held by refugees which lack the authentication normally required may be established by a statement sworn before court.
80. In Belgium, as a result of efforts made by my Branch Office, under the terms of a Decree published on 5 July 1956, refugee students have been granted the same rights to scholarships as nationals, whereas previously only refugees who had been students in Belgium for five years had these rights.
81. In France, the Government awarded 220 scholarships for refugees in 1956, representing a cost of 45 million French francs. These were awarded through the Service social d’aide aux émigrants. A number of special scholarships for Hungarian refugees are to be awarded during 1957.
82. The sum of 2 million French francs placed at the disposal of the French Government from liquidation funds of the International Refugee Organization for aid to refugee students has been spent during 1956 to provide scholarships for the students.
SOCIAL SECURITY
83. In Germany, a new law concerning social security benefits was promulgated on 16 April 1956. The law provides for different treatment for Germans and foreigners as regards unemployment benefits, but gives homeless foreigners the same rights as German nationals. Other non-German refugees became entitled to these benefits on 1 September 1956, after the European Social Security Agreements had come into force in Germany, provided they had resided in Germany for at least six months.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN INDIVIDUAL CASES
84. As a result of the increased number of refugees arriving in Austria and, in particular, the influx of Hungarian refugees, the number of cases of refugees applying to my Branch Office in Vienna for legal assistance has considerably increased.
85. My Branch Office in Bonn, too, reports the need for increased individual legal assistance in the Federal Republic of Germany.
86. Considerable interest is being shown in legal assistance by the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations interested in Migration, which appointed working groups to deal with this matter. My office is represented on these working groups by an observer. Furthermore, provision for legal assistance is included in a certain number of projects within the UNREF programme which have already been authorized by the UNREF Executive Committee. It is hoped that these efforts will lead to the provision of greater facilities for legal assistance to refugees, for which a considerable need exists.
D. Naturalization
87. In Austria, 60,135 refugees of German ethnic origin had acquired by the end of 1956 Austrian nationality under the terms of the Option Law of 2 June 1954. Some 30,000 acquired Austrian nationality under this Law in 1956, including over 19,000 between 1 July and 31 December 1956; during the same period, over 1,000 foreign-speaking refugees obtained Austrian nationality by naturalization. The period for applying for Austrian nationality under the Option Law expired on 30 June 1956.
88. Some 1,000 refugees were naturalized in Belgium in 1956, several thousand in France, over 4,000 in Germany, and some 800 in Greece. Over 500 refugees acquired Italian nationality during 1956, including a certain number of refugees of Italian ethnic origin, who became Yugoslav citizens as a result of the Peace Treaty of 10 February 1947, and reacquired Italian citizenship through a special procedure established by the Italian authorities.
89. It is estimated that, in other European countries, some 10,000 refugees were naturalized during 1956. This number includes approximately 1,000 refugees in the Netherlands, some 4,500 in Sweden, and about 3,200 in the United Kingdom.
E. Travel documents
90. The travel documents provided for by the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees are now issued by the following signatory Governments: Austria, Belgium, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. A general undertaking to recognize all travel documents issued in accordance with the Convention has been given by the following states, non-parties to the Convention: Argentina, Ceylon, China, Colombia, Cuba (for transit only), Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Lebanon, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Portugal and Venezuela. A number of other Governments have signified their recognition of the documents so far issued.
91. By a Decree of 13 September 1956, the Government of Chile has undertaken to put into effect the provisions of the Agreement relating to the Issue of a Travel Document to Refugees of 15 October 1946, and will issue to refugees resident in Chile the document provided for by that Agreement.
92. Details were given in the last report to the General Assembly of the action taken by the Council of Europe, in co-operation with my Office, to facilitate the travel of refugees and of the resolution adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on the subject. A number of measures taken by Governments in implementation of this resolution were reported.[4]
93. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has set up a committee of experts for the simplification of frontier formalities, including frontier formalities for refugees.
94. During the period under review, the following further action has been taken by European Governments towards the facilitation of refugee travel.
95. In the Federal Republic of Germany, an Ordinance was published on 12 May 1956, providing that holders of travel documents issued in accordance with the 1951 Convention, or with the London Travel Document Agreement of 1946, by States with which the German Federal Government has diplomatic relations, and whose nationals do not require a visa for return to their country of nationality, are exempt from the requirement of an entry visa, provided the travel document contains a return clause, and the refugee enters German territory not later than four months before the expiry of that clause.
96. France has concluded bilateral agreements with Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, similar to the agreements existing between the countries of the Benelux Union, exempting refugees from the requirement of an entry visa. According to these agreements, refugees holding a valid travel document issued under the provisions of the 1951 Convention by one of the signatory countries can travel to the other signatory country without the requirement of a visa, for a stay not exceeding three months. These agreements, concluded on 15 February 1957, will come into force on 15 May 1957. It is hoped that other European countries will adopt similar measures in the near future for the exemption of refugees from the requirement of visas.
97. The French Government has waived the requirement of entry and exit visas for refugees resident in France who hold the Convention travel document.
98. The Government of Austria has undertaken to grant entry visas free of charge to refugees travelling to Austria on a visit, or in transit for another destination, provided they hold a travel document issued in accordance with the 1951 Convention by a State which has adopted a similar practice.
99. The Government of Norway grants entry visas free of charge to refugees holding refugee travel documents issued by States whose nationals do not require visas for entry into Norway.
F. Special problems of legal protection
INDEMNIFICATION OF VICTIMS OF NAZI PERSECUTION
100. In the Federal Republic of Germany, a new law for indemnification of Nazi victims was promulgated on 29 June 1956. This law contains certain improvements on previous legislation, but the provision concerning persons persecuted for reasons of nationality is still inadequate as compared with the provisions for other categories of persons who have suffered damage to body or health.
101. During 1956, a special fund of DM.50 million was established by the German authorities for the benefit of persons who had been persecuted for racial reasons, but who at the time of persecution did not belong to the Jewish faith.
102. The need is felt for increased legal assistance to individual refugees in making their claims for indemnification for injuries or damage suffered for Nazi persecution.
INTERNATIONAL TRACING SERVICE
103. My Branch Office in Germany continues its close co-operation with the International Tracing Service, which is administered by the International Committee of the Red Cross, under the supervision of an inter-governmental commission on which my Office is represented by an observer. During1956, the service received 39, 572 inquiries concerning persons who had suffered persecution, displaced persons and refugees; 95,680 requests for certificates needed for indemnification proceedings; 22,591 requests for death certificates; and 236 requests for historical and statistical data.
104. During the same period, the service issued 105,107 reports on persons who had suffered persecution, displaced persons who had suffered persecution, displaced persons and refugees; 129,611 certificates for indemnification purposes; 1,538 death certificates; and 267 reports on historical and statistical data.
Chapter IV PROMOTION OF REPATRIATION AND RESETTLEMENT
GENERAL REMARK
105. Under the terms of its Statute, my Office should facilitate the voluntary repatriation of refugees who come within its mandate. The Office is not authorized by the General Assembly to undertake operational tasks connected with the repatriation or resettlement of refugees, nor has it been provided with funds for these activities.
REPATRIATION
106. In accordance with the terms of the Statute and the provisions of resolution 925 (X) adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth session, the Office has continued to apply due safeguards to ensure the protection of those refugees who are given the opportunity of being repatriated. At my request, the Governments of the countries of residence of refugees inform the Branch Offices of any intended visit of a repatriation mission, and invite them to send a representative to accompany the mission, in the capacity of an impartial observer, to see that no undue influence is exercised on the refugees from any side.
107. In the case of individual refugees applying to the Office or one of its Branch Offices for repatriation, they are referred to the appropriate authorities of their country of origin.
108. According to information received by the Office, it is estimated that some 2,700 refugees within the mandate, excluding new refugees from Hungary, returned to their countries of origin in the course of 1956, as shown in the following breakdown:
109. A certain number of camps in Austria and Germany were visited by repatriation missions. In all cases, my Branch Offices were invited to send a representative to accompany the mission as a neutral observer.
RESETTLEMENT
110. My Office has continued to promote the resettlement of refugees wherever possible. Negotiations between the Office and European Governments have resulted in the development of intra-European resettlement schemes enabling permanent solutions to be found for approximately 2,500 refugees. Furthermore, support has been given to measures initiated by other agencies and organizations to facilitate the resettlement of refugees within Europe and overseas.
111. Since the submission of my report to the General Assembly at its eleventh session, there has been a considerable increase in the rate of resettlement of refugees. The number of refugees within the mandate of my Office who emigrated under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental Committee for European Migration rose from 19,919 in 1955 to 36,531 in 1956, an increase of over 80 per cent. In the first two months of 1957 a further 2,954 refugees emigrated with the assistance of ICEM. These figures do not include Hungarian refugees who left their country of origin after 28 October 1956.
112. In the following table details are given of the numbers of refugees transported by ICEM during 1956:
Area of emigration
113. The increase in the number of refugees resettled can be attributed largely to the accelerated implementation of the United States Refugee Relief Act of 1953 in the period preceding its expiry on 31 December 1956. A further contributing factor has been the development of the intra-European migration schemes referred to above, particularly those of the Governments of Sweden and Belgium.
114. The intra-European migration schemes have offered particularly favourable opportunities to refugees who do not come within the category of "difficult cases" but who are nevertheless unable, because of physical or social handicaps, to participate in normal migration programmes. Such schemes for difficult-to-(re)settle cases sometimes require the provision of a small resettlement grant to help establish a family which is economically weak or to provide for a period of rehabilitation in the country of immigration. A project in an amount of $50,000 to provide such grants was authorized for implementation by the UNREF Executive Committee at its fourth session.
115. My Office, in conjunction with the administration of the United States Escapee Programme, has been able to negotiate resettlement schemes under which 401 refugees have been admitted to Belgium from Greece, seventy-four from Turkey and approximately 150 from Italy. Many of these refugees came within the difficult-to-(re)settle category.
116. During 1956, the Swedish scheme for the admission of a thousand refugees, announced in the previous report to the General Assembly,5 was successfully concluded. Under this programme the Government of Sweden admitted, without resettlement grants from UNREF, refugees suffering from tuberculosis and their dependants, as well as physically and socially handicapped family units. In the autumn of 1956, a Swedish mission visited Greece and Turkey at the suggestion of my Office and selected an additional twenty-five refugees suffering from tuberculosis, together with their dependants, for treatment and permanent settlement in Sweden.
117. Resettlement of 205 refugees in France and 407 refugees in the Netherlands was carried out during 1956 under schemes negotiated by my Office.
Chapter V PROGRAMME OF THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE FUND
GENERAL REMARKS
118. The UNREF programme for permanent solutions and emergency aid authorized by General Assembly resolution 832 (IX) has now been in operation for nearly two years. Nearly all the projects in the UNREF Plan of Operations for 1955 have been implemented. The greater part of the Revised Plan of Operations (1956) is still in the course of implementation, and a beginning has been made with the implementation of the Revised Plan of Operations (1957).
119. In accordance with the policy adopted by the High Commissioner’s Advisory Committee at its fifth session and by the UNREF Executive Committee, emphasis has been placed on the reduction of the number of refugees in camps. To intensify this policy, a plan for the closure of a specified number of camps has been drawn up in Austria, Germany and Greece. In Italy, the influx of new refugees has prevented such a plan from being carried out. In these four countries the refugee camp population, many of whom have been put into new camps, excluding new Hungarian refugees, which was approximately 84,800 at the beginning of 1955, had decreased to 50,330 by January 1957, as is shown in the following table:
a Revised fiogures.
b Excluding new Hungarian refugees.
120. At the time of writing, $8,611,238 of the overall target for UNREF of $16 million for governmental contributions has been pledged or received. As of 31 December 1956 there was a shortfall of $2,696,303 in governmental contributions for 1955 and for 1956. A special contribution of $1,353,180 made by the Swedish Government has made it possible to put into effect a considerable number of outstanding projects within the Revised Plan of Operations (1956) and to begin the implementation of the Revised Plan of Operations (1957). If contributions are maintained at this present level during the remaining period of the programme, there will remain at the end of 1958 a shortfall of approximately $2,700,000.
121. At the request of the UNREF Executive Committee, a report on the effects of the shortfall on the reduction of the camp population was submitted to the General Assembly at its eleventh session[5] and the UNREF Executive Committee, at its fourth session, requested that a complete reappraisal of the UNREF programme should be made, to be considered at its fifth session (A/AC.79/72).
122. As of 1 April 1957, 29,414 refugees, including 9,066 in camps, were benefiting from the UNREF programme. Of these, 10,573, including 3,339 in camps, may be regarded as firmly settled. This number is smaller than had been anticipated, owing to the delay incurred in the implementation of the projects.
Contributions to the Fund for 1956
123. At its second session the UNREF Executive Committee agreed on the principle of taking over into the annual target for governmental contributions the shortfall of the preceding year. The combined financial target for 1956 was accordingly fixed at $5,946,303.[6] As of 1 May 1957, the following governmental contributions to UNREF for 1956 had been received in the total amount of $3,250,000, in addition to an amount of $167,674 which had been received from non-governmental sources:
Governmental contributions to UNREF for 1956
Implementation of the of Operations for 1955 and 1956
124. At the time of writing, projects within the Plan of Operations for 1955 and the Revised Plan of Operations (1956) in an amount of $6,154,118[7] have been put into effect. They include projects in amounts of $4,427,058 for permanent solutions, $1,038,790 for the settlement of difficult cases, $523,472 for the Shanghai Operation and $164,798 for emergency aid. These amounts include projects in the amount of $1,406,691 financed from non-governmental sources. A more detailed account of the implementation of the programme by countries and types of assistance may be found in the following sections of this chapter.
Revised Plan of Operations (1957)
125. The UNREF Executive Committee, at its fourth session, established the combined financial target for 1957 at $7,096,303, and decided that the value of unimplemented projects within the Plan of Operations (1956) should be taken over into the Revised Plan of Operations (1957).
126. The allocation for projects approved by the Executive Committee for the Revised Plan of Operations (1957) were as follows:
An amount of $1,089,478 was left unallocated.
127. At its fourth session, the Executive Committee approved the Revised Plan of Operations (1957) and authorized for implementation, as funds became available, projects requiring a contribution of $4,066,040 from UNREF, including an amount of $310,009 from non-governmental funds. Additional projects in the amount of $1,749,786 are being submitted to the Executive Committee at its fifth session which would increase to $5,815,826 the total value of projects authorized for implementation in the Revised Plan of Operations (1957).
Contributions pledged or promised for 1957
128. As of 1 May 1957, the following Governments had contributed or signified their intention to contribute to UNREF in the amounts stated below:
a Equivalent of Canadian $ 183,000.
b Appropriation for first part of 1957.
In addition, an amount of $408,304 has been received from non-governmental sources, including a special contribution of $365,822 by the United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
A. Permanent solutions
AUSTRIA
General remarks
129. At the beginning of 1956, out of 148,760 refugees in Austria there were some 82,800 non-settled refugees, including 35,800 refugees living in camps.
130. One of the most significant developments in Austria has been a considerable reduction in the number of refugees within the mandate of my Office, mainly resulting from the naturalization of a larger number of refugees under the Federal Act of 2 June 1954. The total number of refugees decreased from 148,760 on 1 January 1956 to 111,5009 on 1 January 1957. The number of refugees within the mandate living in camps decreased from 35,800 on 1 January 1956 to 19,850[8] on 1 January 1957.
131. The influx of Hungarian refugees into Austria temporarily retarded the implementation of the UNREF programme, since it necessarily demanded the attention of all the governmental and non-governmental officials concerned with the refugee problem. The Hungarian refugee influx particularly affected plans for the closure of camps, because those scheduled for closure had to be kept open to admit the new refugees. This situation has now been remedied; dates have been fixed for the closure of fifteen camps before or by the end of 1958. It should be remembered, however, that there is still in Austria a considerable number of refugees outside camps who live in sub-standard accommodation.
Summary of projects included in the Revised Plan of Operations (1956)
132. The UNREF Executive Committee approved an allocation of $1,160,000 from UNREF to be devoted to permanent solutions projects in Austria under the Revised Plan of Operations (1956). To this amount was added the sum of $1,001,725 taken over from the Plan of Operations for 1955, making a total of $2,161,725 for 1956.
133. The total allocation was broken down into the following categories of projects:
134. The most important requirements for the refugees in Austria were still considered to be the provision of housing, credit facilities and opportunities in agriculture. It was found necessary to include a new type of project for the rehabilitation of handicapped refugees, particularly those in the camps, who, if they were given proper training and prosthetic appliances, would be able to obtain employment in light industries. The projects for integration counselling implemented in 1955 had proved their value, and further projects were presented for a slightly increased amount. There was a continuing need for vocational training projects as well as projects for high school pupils, and for aid to students. Counselling projects were continued and reinforced by a special project for case-workers in the camps with a high proportion of foreign refugees.
Implementation of projects in the Plans and Operations for 1955 and 1956
135. Permanent solutions projects included in the UNREF Plan of Operations for 1955 and in the Revised Plan of Operations (1956), requiring contributions from UNREF amounting to $2,230,658 are being implemented. The total UNREF contributions to these projects include $534,759 granted by the Netherlands Committee for Aid to Refugees, $164,269 from other non-governmental funds, $17,000 from the balance of the United Nations Refugee Emergency Fund and $1,514,630 from governmental contributions.
136. The breakdown of projects in the course of implementation is as follows:
137. As of 1 April 1957, 8,612 refugees had benefited from these projects and 5,343 of these had been firmly settled. Of the total number of beneficiaries, 3,483 belonged to the camp population.
GERMANY
General Remarks
138. On 1 January 1956, there were, among 216,000 refugees within the mandate of my Office residing in Germany, some 81,860 non-settled refugees, of whom 26,860 were living in camps. In spite of the continued influx of refugees from the Eastern zone of Germany and of Volksdeutsche from Eastern European countries, a further decrease in unemployment has been reported. The admission of almost 15,000 new Hungarian refugees has not considerably affected the situation of other refugees. The lack of adequate housing located in areas where there are employment opportunities is still the major obstacle to the integration of the refugees, but there is also a great need for integration counselling and various types of vocational training and rehabilitation for the more difficult cases.
Summary of projects included in the Revised Plan of Operations (1956)
139. At its second session, the UNREF Executive Committee approved an allocation of $370,024 from UNREF for projects for permanent solutions in Germany under the Revised Plan of Operations (1956). The total allocation was broken down into the following categories of projects:
140. The needs of the refugees in Germany in 1956 remained similar to those existing in 1955. In the light of experience gained in 1955, the programme was slightly modified. Housing remained the principal requirement if the camps were to be closed and, therefore, absorbed the major part of the allocation for Germany. A new type of project was introduced to provide rehabilitation for handicapped refugees, enabling them to take up employment. The allocation for aid to university students was reduced, as this type of project was not intended to be a recurring one, but was to assist refugees to continue or complete studies already begun. The project started in 1955 for small loans to enable refugees to establish themselves in independent occupations filled a great need, and it was decided to continue it in 1956, but on a smaller scale in view of the reduction of the over-all allocation for Germany.
Implementation of projects in the Plans of Operations for 1955 and 1956
141. Permanent solutions projects included in the UNREF Plan of Operations for 1955 and in the Revised Plan of Operations (1956), requiring contributions from UNREF amounting to $662,794, are being implemented. The total UNREF contributions to these projects include $7,650 from the balance of the United Nations Refugee Emergency Fund, $563,430 from governmental contributions to UNREF and $91,714 from other contributions.
142. The breakdown of projects in the course of implementation is as follows:
143. As of 1 April 1957, 4,522 refugees had benefited from these projects and 1,538 of these had been firmly settled. Of the total number of beneficiaries 3,027 belonged to the camp population.
GREECE
General Remarks
144. At the beginning of 1956, the number of non-settled refugees in Greece was estimated to be some 8,700, including 1,900 in camps, while the total number of refugees within the mandate of my Office was estimated at 14,500. Under the projects included I the Plans of Operations for 1955 and 1956, provisions were made for the refugee camp population ineligible for assistance from the USEP administration. In the Revised Plan of Operations (1956) a number of projects were designed to help refugees living outside camps, of whom some 6,000 were estimated to be non-settled on 31 December 1956. The condition of these refugees is often as precarious as that of the camp population. More rapid progress is being made in the implementation of projects in this country now that the Preselection Service, which is responsible for the selection of refugees for all UNREF projects, is operating smoothly.
Summary of projects included in the Revised Plan of Operations (1956)
146. At its second session, the UNREF Executive Committee approved an allocation of $600,000 for permanent solutions projects in Greece under the Revised Plan of Operations (1956). To this amount was added the value of $440,251 taken over from the Plan of Operations for 1955, making a total of $1,040,251 for 1956. The total allocation was broken down into the following categories of projects:
In addition, a special project in an amount of $7,495 was submitted for the rehabilitation of handicapped refugees, to be financed from non-governmental contributions.
146. The main needs of the refugees in Greece who cannot be resettled overseas continued to be the provision of employment and of accommodation. In view of the general economic and social situation of the country, special individual attention needed to be given to each family and, in this connexion, the project for pre-selection was particularly important.
147. Projects were drawn up in consultation with the Greek authorities to establish refugees in agriculture, or in crafts, trades or businesses in urban areas. It was considered necessary to continue the project for vocational training and, on a reduced scale, the project for aid to university students.
Implementation of projects in the Plans of Operations for 1955 and 1956
148. Permanent solutions projects included in the UNREF Plan of Operations for 1955 and in the Revised Plan of Operations (1956), requiring contributions from UNREF amounting to $930,403, are in the course of implementation. The total UNREF contributions to these projects include $230,425 from the contribution of the Netherlands Committee for Aid to Refugees, $3,278 from the balance of the United Nations Refugee Emergency Fund and $696,700 from governmental contributions.
149. The breakdown of projects in the course of implementation is as follows:
150. As of 1 April 1957, 356 refugees had benefited from these projects of whom 183 had been firmly settled. Of the total number of beneficiaries, 194 belonged to the camp population.
ITALY
General remarks
151. Within the total of 19,000 refugees within the mandate of my Office residing in Italy, including Trieste, at the beginning of 1956 there was an estimated number of 10,670 non-settled refugees, of whom 3,878 were living in camps.
152. In view of the national problems of over-population and unemployment, permanent solutions for refugees in Italy must be found mainly through resettlement. A special effort is being made for those refugees in Italy who are difficult to resettle owing to their age or other handicaps. For those who cannot be resettled, integration projects have been prepared and are now in the course of implementation. These projects are mainly for the benefit of refugees living in camps. Arrangements are also being discussed with the Italian authorities whereby refugees living outside camps will obtain regular residence and employment permits.
Summary of projects included in the Revised Plan of Operations (1956)
153. At its second session, the UNREF Executive Committee approved an allocation of $450,000 for projects for permanent solutions in Italy under the Revised Plan of Operations (1956). To this amount was added the value of $67,104, taken over from the Plan of Operations for 1955, making a total of $517,104 for 1956. The total allocation was broken down into the following categories of projects:
154. Since resettlement remains the most suitable solution for the problems of the refugees in Italy, further projects were elaborated for the study of individual cases and the search for emigration opportunities. For those refugees who were not likely to be able to emigrate, projects were drawn up for local establishment in crafts and trades, including selection and counselling of candidates, provision of vocational training, medical care, placement in employment and granting of loans. Projects were also adopted for the placement and care of tubercular and post-tubercular refugees.
Implementation of projects in the Plans of Operations for 1955 and 1956
155. Permanent solutions projects included in the UNREF Plan of Operations for 1955 and in the Revised Plan of Operations (1956), requiring contributions from UNREF amounting to $386,196, are being implemented. The total UNREF contributions to these projects include $1,400 granted by the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, and $384, 796 from governmental contributions.
156. The breakdown of projects in the course of implementation is as follows:
157. As of 1 April 1957, 1,044 refugees had benefited from these projects and 494 of these had been firmly settled. Of the total number of beneficiaries 642 belonged to the camp population
Other countries
Belgium and France
158. As its second session, the UNREF Executive Committee had approved, within the Revised Plan of Operations (1956) a total allocation of $350,000 towards permanent solutions projects for those refugees in these countries who, owing to physical or economic handicaps, could not be integrated without special assistance.
Belgium
159. The total allocation of $70,000 for Belgium was broken down as follows:
The projects for employment counselling and placement in the amount of $20,000 and for the rehabilitation of handicapped refugees in the amount of $30,000 are in the course of implementation. A project in an amount of $4,000 for integration counselling, included in the Plan of Operations for 1955, has now been completed.
On 1 April 1957, a total of 1,231 refugees had benefited from the above-mentioned projects, 622 of whom had been firmly settled.
France
161. Permanent solutions projects, requiring contributions from UNREF amounting to $163,005 within the total allocation of $280,000, are being implemented in accordance with the following breakdown:
162. As of 1 April 1957, 134 refugees had benefited from the projects for establishment in crafts and trades and integration of intellectuals, all of whom have been firmly settled. A considerable number of refugees will shortly benefit from the rehabilitation projects.
B. Settlement of difficult cases
GENERAL REMARKS
163 Action on behalf of difficult cases has been continued.
164. As indicated in my report presented at the eleventh session of the General Assembly, it has been found necessary to extend the definition of difficult cases to include refugees in the age group sixty to sixty-five for whom no other permanent solution can be envisaged than their settlement as difficult casse.[9]
165. After a noticeable slowing down in the pace of resettlement of refugees of European origin in China in the earlier part of 1956, the movement of difficult cases holding visas for settlement in European countries was resumed in the later part of the year. As a result, more openings in institutions were offered to this group of refugees, including an offer from the Government of Australia to admit twenty aged refugees from China for settlement in institutions in that country.
166. The UNREF Executive Committee approved an allocation of $594,000 from UNREF to be devoted to the settlement of difficult cases under the Revised Plan of Operations (1956). An amount of $356,510 was taken over from the Plan of Operations (1955) making a total of $950,510 broken down as follows:
167. The projects for settlement of difficult cases in the Revised Plan of Operations (1956) followed the lines of those in the Plan for 1955. They provide for settlement in institutions in the countries of residence, and, where this is not possible, in other countries. Annuities have been given to small numbers of difficult cases in Greece and Italy who are not suitable for settlement in institutions.
168. A considerable number of difficult cases still reside outside camps, particularly in Austria, where a survey has been started to obtain detailed information on the characteristics of the group and on the type of solution that will be required.
169. Settlement opportunities for the chronically sick, and especially for the mental cases, continue to be very scarce, as the institutions providing appropriate medical care in various European countries are filled with nationals of these countries. The French Government has agreed to the admission of ten chronically sick and paralysed European refugees from China into an institution in that country.
170. There are still thirty-one identifiable mental cases and 178 chronically sick and physically handicapped cases among the refugees of European origin in China who are in urgent need of institutional settlement. In an endeavour to procure more openings for this type of patient, UNREF contributions towards their settlement have had to be increased.
IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS IN THE PLANS OF OPERATIONS FOR 1955 AND 1956
171. Difficult cases projects in the UNREF Plans of Operations for 1955 and 1956, requiring direct contributions from UNREF in an amount of $1,038,790,are being implemented.
172. The Governments of European countries have made a most valuable indirect contribution to UNREF by admitting difficult cases for settlement on their territory and assuming the responsibility for their permanent maintenance and medical care. The total expenditure and commitments of the Governments of the countries of reception in respect of difficult cases admitted on their territory in the course of 1956 has been estimated at $1,927,500.
173. Considerable progress was made in solving the problem of difficult cases in Egypt by building a Home for Aged Refugees in Cairo, and through the admission of an additional number of cases for settlement in institutions in Switzerland. The Government of Switzerland has also admitted a small group of refugees from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, thus reducing the number of difficult cases in these countries.
174. The number of refugees who have benefited from local settlement projects within the UNREF Plans of Operations for 1955 and 1956 is given in the table below. The comparatively small number of actual beneficiaries is due to the fact that many of these projects involve the building of new homes or structural alterations to existing institutions and have therefore not yet been fully implemented.
175. The following table indicates the number of refugees actually resettled outside their countries of residence under the UNREF Plans of Operations for 1955 and 1956.
Countries of resettlement
176. As of 1 April 1957, 639 refugees, including forty-one dependants, had already benefited under these projects. This number includes 197 refugees settled in institutions in their countries of residence, 382 settled in other countries, and sixty aged refugees for whom annuities have been provided.
177. In addition, the Governments of Denmark, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom admitted 312 difficult cases, with 136 family members, into institutions in their territories, without requiring UNREF grants.
C. Shanghai operation
178. Revised estimates, based on registration by the voluntary agencies, showed that, as of 1 January 1956, there remained 16,900 refugees of European origin in China within the mandate of my Office, after 546 had been resettled from China in the course of 1955.
179. Under the joint operation carried out by my Office and the Inter-Governmental Committee for European Migration on behalf of refugees of European origin in China, provision is made for financial assistance in China to the most needy, for care and maintenance of those who are in transit through Hong Kong, and for resettlement.
180. The responsibility for assistance to the refugees of European origin in China formerly registered with the International Refugee Organization, was taken over from my Office in Shanghai in May 1956 by the China People’s Relief Association which has continued some of the services to refugees which were previously provided by the UNHCR Office in Shanghai. This organization provides emergency aid to the most needy refugees and is bearing the cost of the Emergency Staging Centre at Shanghai. Arrangements for the resettlement of European refugees from China are now made by the joint UNHCR/ICEM Office in Hong Kong, which is also responsible for the financing of care and maintenance of these refugees in Hong Kong pending their resettlement.
181. Movement of these refugees was considerably slowed down in the earlier part of 1956 owing to increasing difficulties in obtaining exit permits. In the second half of 1956, this difficulty was removed. A considerable increase in the number of refugees who may be resettled from China is expected during the current year.
182. The UNREF Executive Committee approved, within the Revised Plan of Operations (1956), an allocation of $331,120 including $273,520 for direct expenditure and $57,600 for assistance through voluntary agencies. A part of these funds has become available for other projects in view of the take-over by the China People’s Relief Association.
183. Projects in the amount of $273,520 are in course of implementation. Between 1 January 1955 and 1 April 1957, some 3,500 refugees have benefited or are benefiting from emergency aid, of whom 2,045 have been resettled overseas.
184. As a result of the acceptance by the Netherlands Government of some of the refugees remaining in the Shanghai Emergency Staging Centre, it has been possible to reduce the number of its inmates to seven, for whom it is hoped that resettlement opportunities will also be found.
185. It is expected that, of the 7,500 European refugees in China at present holding visas for resettlement in other countries, 3,000 will obtain exit permits during 1957, in which case additional funds will be required for the financing of their resettlement.
D. Emergency aid
GENERAL REMARKS
186. The programme for emergency aid to the most needy refugees has been continued during 1956 along the lines of the programme contained in the Plan of Operations for 1955. The Executive Committee approved within the Revised Plan of Operations (1956) a total allocation of $105,564, broken down according to the countries of residence of refugees as follows
187. Most of these projects provide for medical assistance and supplementary feeding, except in Italy, where the emergency aid project consists of a medical insurance scheme.
IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS IN THE REVISED PLAN OF OPERATIONS (1956)
188. Projects for emergency aid in the Revised Plan of Operations (1956), requiring an UNREF contribution of $98,138, are being implemented.
189. As of 1 April 1957, a total of 4,338 refugees were or had been benefiting from emergency aid projects, included in the Revised Plan of Operations (1956), of whom 1,113 refugees were in Italy, 1,287 in Greece and 833 in Turkey. It is expected that, as the programme for permanent solutions develops, particularly in Greece and Italy, the number of refugees requiring emergency aid may decrease in the course of 1957.
Chapter VI GENERAL ACTIVITIES
A. Relations with specialized agencies of the United Nations
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION
190. My Office was represented at the Preparatory Technical Maritime Conference, held by the ILO in London from 19 September to 2 October 1956, which considered a draft convention concerning the form and contents of seafarers’ national identity documents and their reciprocal recognition. Upon suggestions made by the Office, provisions which may be of special benefit to refugees were included in this draft convention, which will be submitted to a special maritime session of the International Labour Conference to be held early in 1958.
UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION
191. The Office has maintained liaison with UNESCO on matters of common concern, particularly with regard to the exchange of information and documentation on assistance to refugee scholars and students, and with regard to the evaluation and authentification of certificates and diplomas held by refugees who are unable to refer to the authorities of the countries where such certificates and diplomas were issued. The Director-General of UNESCO agreed to attach to the Branch Office in Vienna an educational advisor to assist my representative in the planning of educational projects for young Hungarian refugees.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
192. Co-operation with WHO has proved particularly valuable in connexion with the emergency situation of Hungarian refugees in Austria. Pursuant to the terms of General Assembly resolution 1006 (ES-II), my Office sought WHO’s advice on the requirements for medical care of Hungarian refugees arriving in Austria. When the situation had been investigated locally by a WHO medical officer, the WHO Regional Office for Europe, at the request of the Austrian Government and in consultation with my Office, sent a team of experts to Austria to advise the local authorities on health problems of refugees in camps. The team included an expert who made a special study of the psychological difficulties experienced by some refugees as a result of their uprooting. A report on the findings of this survey was transmitted to the authorities and agencies concerned with the reception and movement of refugees and to the Governments of the countries in which they were being resettled.
B. Relations with inter-governmental organizations and the United States Escapee Programme
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
193. The liaison between the Council of Europe and this Office has developed most satisfactorily during the period under review. The Council has given considerable support to the action undertaken in favour of Hungarian refugees. Shortly after the beginning of the emergency a special meeting of the Population Committee, which was attended by representatives of my Office, was held in Vienna in November 1956. Upon the recommendation of the Committee that the greatest possible financial contributions should be made by Members of the United Nations which were also members of the Council of Europe, the Committee of Ministers decided, by its resolution (56) 20, to make available for assistance to Hungarian refugees an amount of Fr. Frs. 100 million, being the unused balance of governmental contributions to the 1955 budget of the Council of Europe. In addition, a token contribution of Fr. Frs. 1 million was made by the Special Representative for National Refugees and Over-population from the Resettlement Fund.
194. The Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe recommended, in resolution 114 of 8 January 1957, that the Committee of Ministers should invite Governments to make a special effort to contribute the largest possible amount to my Office for assistance to Hungarian refugees, especially those in Austria. It also recommended that the Inter-Governmental Committee for European Migration should be granted the necessary means for the transportation of these refugees to other countries.
195. The Consultative Assembly also adopted a recommendation, No. 123, to the effect that information should be obtained on the position of Hungarian refugee students residing in member countries, to enable the Committee of Ministers to study means by which these refugees could continue their university training.
196. A report on the activities of my Office was presented to the Consultative Assembly at its eighth session. Upon the recommendation of the Committee on Population and Refugees, the Consultative Assembly, in its resolution No. 117, adopted on 11 January 1957, expressed its appreciation of the results achieved through the UNREF programme, and urged States members of the Council of Europe to take the action necessary to enable UNREF to reach the targets fixed for governmental contributions in 1956 and 1957.
197. As in previous years, the Council of Europe was represented by an observer at meetings of the UNREF Executive Committee. My Office was invited to attend meetings of the Consultative Assembly of the Population Committee and of the Advisory Committee of the Special Representative for National Refugees and Over-population, and other meetings where matters affecting the interests of refugees were discussed.
198. In consultation with my Office satisfactory arrangements were also made for the inclusion of clauses for the benefit of refugees in the draft European Conventions on Extradition.
INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR EUROPEAN MIGRATION
199. During the period under review close cooperation has continued between my Office and ICEM.
200. In moving 36,531 refugees within my mandate in the course of 1956, the Committee made an invaluable contribution towards the solution of the refugee problem. Many of these refugees were transported to the United States under the terms of the United States Refugee Relief Act of 1953, or to other countries under bilateral agreements concluded between those countries and countries of emigration. Special mention should also be made of the co-operation between the Committee and my Office in connexion with intra-European migration schemes initiated and sponsored by the Office. Under these schemes, refugees were admitted to the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. ICEM assisted in the selection of the refugees concerned and organized their movement.
201. During the latter part of 1956, plans for a survey of the difficult and difficult-to-(re) settle cases living outside camps in Austria were drawn up by this Office, in collaboration with ICEM. When the survey is completed, the dossiers on these cases which have been prepared and classified by the survey team will be retained in the Documentation Centre established by ICEM in Glasenbach, Austria. The dossiers will be under regular review and readily accessible for consultation when solutions to the problems of the cases concerned are being sought. It is anticipated that the carrying out of the survey, which had to be temporarily suspended owing to the new problem caused by the influx of Hungarian refugees, will be resumed in May 1957.
202. There has been very close co-operation between the Migration Committee and this Office in connexion with the influx of Hungarian refugees into Austria, particularly with regard to their resettlement in other countries. Regular and almost daily consultations between the Committee and this Office at Headquarters and in the field have considerably facilitated the task of co-ordinating assistance for Hungarian refugees and have enabled resettlement opportunities to be fully exploited.
203. The Migration Committee was authorized by its Council, at its sixth session, to make the necessary arrangements for co-operation with my Office in the resettlement of Hungarian refugees from Yugoslavia.
ORGANIZATION FOR EUROPEAN ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION
204. The Office has continued to co-operate with the Organization for European Economic Co-operation in an endeavour to extend to refugees the action promoted by OEEC to liberalize the movement of manpower between its member States. The Government of France has made a proposal, in connexion with the implementation of this extension, which would require the increase to three years of the period of validity of the return clause contained in 1951 Convention travel documents issued to refugees who take up employment in another member country. As a result of representations made by UNHCR, the following States, in addition to France, have signified their willingness to accept this proposal: Luxembourg, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Italy and, subject to certain conditions, Switzerland, Greece and the United Kingdom. The Netherlands Government already issues the Convention travel document valid for return during a period of three years. The proposal of the Government of France is to be discussed at a future session of the Manpower Committee of OEEC.
UNITED STATES ESCAPEE PROGRAMME
205. The work of the USEP administration has continued to be of great value for those refugees within my mandate who are eligible for its assistance, particularly in the field of resettlement. Of the 36,531 refugees resettled by ICEM in 1956, 12,062 were moved with financial assistance from USEP.
206. Throughout 1956 there has been close collaboration between my Office and the USEP administration, particularly in the development of intra-European resettlement schemes which provided for resettlement opportunities for refugees in the difficult-to-(re)settle category from Greece, Italy and Turkey.
207. During the period under review regular meetings of senior officials of USEP and the Office, as well as of ICEM, have been held to co-ordinate action in common fields. During the Hungarian refugee emergency, these tripartite meetings were expanded to include voluntary agencies and other organizations actively engaged in assistance to the Hungarian refugees.
C. Relations with voluntary agencies
208. As in previous years, my Office has maintained the closest relations with the voluntary agencies working for refugees. Regular meetings are held at headquarters with organizations members of the Standing Conference of Voluntary Agencies working for Refugees, and also between my representatives and the co-ordinating councils of voluntary agencies which have been established in several countries. The voluntary agencies are playing a particularly useful part in the preparation and implementation of the UNREF programme. Many of the projects included in the programme are initiated by the voluntary agencies or established in consultation with them and are implemented by their field staff.
209. A special tribute should be paid to the generous and effective contribution made by the non-governmental organizations toward the solution of the emergency caused by the sudden influx of Hungarian refugees. Particular mention should be made in this connexion of the League of Red Cross Societies and the national Red Cross societies for the efficient manner in which they organized the care and maintenance of Hungarian refugees in Austria and mobilized popular support for the refugees.
210. A most valuable contribution is also being made to the solution of the problem of Hungarian refugees in Yugoslavia by the League of Red Cross Societies and several voluntary agencies who have so far sent twelve of their staff members into that country to assist in the processing for the emigration of the refugees and to carry out social welfare work.
D. The closing of Tinos Camp
211. It was reported to the General Assembly at its eleventh session11 that the Nobel Peace Prize for 1954 had been awarded to the High Commissioner’s Office, and that the sum of approximately $33,000 received under this award would be devoted to closing the refugee camp on the Greek island of Tinos and providing permanent solutions for all its inmates.
212. At the end of 1955, there were forty-two refugee families living in this camp, comprising ninety-seven persons, mostly refugees from Romania. These refugees were maintained from a small grant from the Greek Government supplemented by food provided under an UNREF emergency aid project and from United States surplus stocks. The Danish Red Cross and a voluntary agency in Denmark also made gifts of food and clothing.
213. The Greek Government approved the Office’s plans for the closure of Tinos camp, and undertook to co-operate in establishing as many as possible of the inmates elsewhere in Greece. The Norwegian Refugee Council and the Swiss Aid to Europe each undertook to make a contribution of $10,000 towards projects to benefit these refugees. One of the international voluntary agencies operating in Greece agreed to give special priority in its programme for resettlement abroad to refugees from the camp.
214. A special counsellor was appointed by my Branch Office in Athens to investigate each case and to review the possibilities for re-establishment in order to determine the most appropriate solution for each refugee. Three main types of solution were adopted: emigration to countries outside Greece; integration into the Greek economy by establishment in agriculture, industrial employment, crafts or trades and by the provision of housing; and, thirdly, the settlement of difficult cases either in the Tinos Old People’s Home or in an institution in Athens. Some of the refugees were able to benefit from projects already included in the UNREF Plan of Operations, while for others special projects had to be devised.
215. By the end of March 1957, solutions had been found for the problems of fourteen families, mainly through emigration, establishment in small businesses and placement in institutions. Another thirteen families had by then also been established, under projects financed from UNREF.
216. Projects have been prepared for the resettlement of the remaining fifteen families, mainly for establishment in trades and in small businesses. For five of these families individual projects are being drawn up, to be financed from the special Nobel Prize funds, while solutions for the other ten families will be found through existing UNREF projects.
217. It is anticipated that all the refugees will have left Tinos Camp by the end of June 1957.
E. Camp adoption scheme
218. The camp adoption scheme was started in 1954 to encourage the interest of local communities in refugee problems and to stimulate private initiatives in favour of the refugees in the camps. Several communities in the United Kingdom had already shown an active interest in refugee camps at the time the scheme was launched; since then, the scheme has continually expanded and has now been taken up by a number of communities and organizations in other countries, particularly Denmark, Sweden and Canada. The co-operation and interest of women’s organizations of different kinds is a special feature of recent developments. Mention should also be made of the valuable co-operation of a number of non-governmental organizations in facilitating the formalities connected with the transport and reception of gifts destined for the camps.
219. In the United Kingdom, the activities of adopting groups are to some extent centralized through the Adoption Committee for Aid to Displaced Persons for camps in Germany, and through the British Council for Aid to Refugees for those in Austria. The adopting groups co-operated energetically in the United Nations campaign of autumn 1956 in aid of refugees, and a part of the proceeds has been allotted to them for certain purposes in connexion with camp adoption, such as maintaining a travelling case-worker, equipping a vocational training centre, or endowing places for difficult cases in a tuberculosis sanatorium.
220. The activity of the adopting groups varies from sending personal letters and parcels to more substantive help. One national organization has collected several thousand pounds for loans to refugees in their camp to enable them to participate in housing schemes, and has arranged for the money to be administered as a revolving loan fund. Another organization, through individual case work and financial help, has succeeded in finding a solution for each of the refugees residing in a Greek camp at the time it was adopted. Another community has provided money for a much needed dispensary, with an attendant nurse, for a refugee centre. An important contribution has also been made by " The Wings of Friendship", a movement having as its object to appeal to business firms and industrial concerns for tools, machinery, materials, vitamins and other donations in kind to help the refugees. The basic value of gifts contributed through this movement during 1956 is estimated to be some £21,000.
221. The policy of my Office is to link the camp adoption scheme wherever possible with the UNREF programme for camp closure, and to encourage new groups to adopt camps not listed for early closure, as well as newly-established homes for aged refugees. Adopting groups are encouraged to transfer their interest to another camp or an old people’s home when the camp in which they are interested is closed.
222. The total number of camps effectively adopted as of 1 April is sixty, in some cases more than one adopting group being associated with a particular camp.
F. Award of the Nansen medal
223. The Nansen Medal Award Committee, established in 1955 by the late High Commissioner, Dr. G.J. van Heuven Goedhart, met in Geneva on 16 July 1956 to designate a candidate to receive the medal for that year. The Committee decided to award the medal for 1956 to Mrs. Dorothy Houghton, a United States citizen who has played a leading role in many national and international programmes to assist refugees, and a former President of the United States General Federation of Women’s Clubs. The Committee also decided to award a special posthumous medal to Dr. van Heuven Goedhart, in recognition of his devoted interest in the cause of refugees and his outstanding efforts towards the solution of their problems.
224. On 3 September 1956, at a ceremony held in the Council Chamber of the Palais des Nations, the Nansen Medal Award Committee presented the Nansen Medal for 1956 to Mrs. Dorothy Houghton, and the special Nansen Medal to Mrs. van Heuven Goedhart.
G. Public Information
225. The UNREF Executive Committee, at its third session, authorized an amount of $13,300 to be spent on information activities designed to increase public interest in the refugee problem and to support fundraising activities promoted by the Office. This was used to finance a number of publications, photographs, films and broadcasts, in co-operation with the United Nations Department of Public Information and other agencies, such as broadcasting corporations and television organizations.
226. Publications prepared in support of the fundraising campaigns launched in the United Kingdom by the United Nations Association, and in New Zealand by the Council of Organizations of Relief Services Overseas, included a folder of which 300,000 copies were distributed mainly in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, an illustrated booklet entitled "Challenge to Your Conscience" of which 15,000 copies were distributed in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, and a filmstrip with accompanying booklet explaining the nature of the refugee problem and the purpose of UNREF.
227. My Office prepared printed reference documents in English, French, German and Spanish and, in co-operation with UNESCO, a special edition of the UNESCO Courier concerned entirely with the refugee problem. The French publication Faim et Soif devoted a special number to refugee work. Reprints of both these publications in English, French and Spanish were given a very wide dissemination in Europe, Latin America and North America.
228. The interest aroused by these publications and by press releases and feature articles resulted in a marked increase in the number of articles in the daily and weekly press and in radio and television programmes about the refugee problem, which, in turn, noticeably affected current public opinion in favour of assistance to refugees.
229. At the end of 1956, a special illustrated report was published in narrative style on the results of the first two years of the UNREF Permanent Solutions Programme; 6,000 copies were placed with voluntary agencies and non-governmental organizations for world-wide distribution.
230. Following events in Hungary in the autumn of 1956, the Office collaborated with the Department of Public Information in an operation to support the appeals made by the Secretary-General and UNHCR for help for Hungarian refugees. The Department established an information team to report, by means of film, photographs and radio, on the international action undertaken to relieve the emergency. At the height of the crisis, daily reports were broadcast from Vienna in five languages, which were transmitted by stations in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, the Latin American countries, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
231. The film made by the Department of Public Information, depicting the arrival of Hungarian refugees in Austria and arrangements for their reception and eventual resettlement, was placed on television networks in Canada, Denmark, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
ANNEX I REPORT OF THE UNREF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE[10]* (Fourth session – Geneva, 29 January to 4 February 1957)
I INTRODUCTION
1. The UNREF Executive Committee held its fourth session from 29 January to 4 February 1957 at the Palais des Nations, Geneva. All the Governments members of the Executive Committee were represented, as follows:
2. The Governments of Canada, China, Egypt, Hungary, Sweden and Yugoslavia were represented by observers, as was the Sovereign Order of Malta.
3. The International Labour Organisation, the Council of Europe, the Inter-Governmental Committee for European Migration, and the Food and Agriculture Organization were also represented by observers.
Opening of the session and election of officers
4. The session was opened by Dame May Gurwen (United Kingdom), Vice-Chairman of the third session of the Executive Committee, the Chairman of the third session not being present.
5. The Committee elected the following officers:
6. The Chairman paid tribute to the memory of the late Mr. G. J. van Heuven Goedhardt, and extended a welcome to Mr. A. Lindt, the newly elected High Commissioner for Refugees.
7. Mr. Adrian Pelt, Director of the European Office of the United Nations, welcomed the representatives on behalf of the Secretary-General and wished them success in the task they had before them. He particularly welcomed Mr. A. Lindt, and assured him of every support from the European Office in his work.
Statement by the High Commissioner
8. The High Commissioner, in his opening remarks, paid tribute to the late Dr. G. J. van Heuven Goedhardt, whose devotion and foresight in planning the UNREF programme was now bearing fruit.
9. The problems facing his Office had been increased by the influx of Hungarian refugees into Austria and Yugoslavia. The Office’s policy was to do everything possible, in collaboration with the Inter-Governmental Committee for European Migration, to stimulate the emigration of the Hungarian refugees from their country of first asylum.
10. Another emergency problem with which his Office was faced was that of the refugees from Egypt who came within the mandate of the Office, and he was following the developments of this problem with much concern.
11. In spite of these emergencies, it was the policy of the Office to go ahead with the UNREF programme, and the generous contribution[11] by Sweden of 7 million kroner would be of very considerable help in implementing the programme in 1957. During the last year some 6,00 refugees had been helped by the programme, which had acquired considerable impetus during the last three months. The report he had submitted to the General Assembly at its eleventh session on the short-fall in governmental contributions1 had now been superseded by events and a re-appraisal of the position was required.
12. As far as the Shanghai Operation was concerned, he was glad to report that refugees were still able to leave China, and the operation could therefore be continued. Finally, the High Commissioner made a plea to all Governments to follow the example of those which had generously admitted difficult cases, whose numbers were