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UNHCR Resettlement Report 1997



The UNHCR report from which following items are extracted has just been
issued.  Besides providing information about refugee resettlement last
year, the report looks ahead to the coming year and anticipates some of the
potential crisis areas around the world.  The overview provided is intended
to provide a basis for consultations with countries involved in
resettlement.  Those involved in direct assistance to refugees should note
especially the information about emergency resettlement provisions in case
these conditions apply to persons with whom you are working.  


 ...Elsewhere in South East Asia, UNHCR is engaged in extensive operations
on behalf of Myanmarese and Cambodian refugees.  In 1997, resettlement has
only been sought for a small number of persons from among these refugee
groups, particularly from the *safe area* near Bangkok, Thailand and from
detention facilities in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  Developments continue to
be closely monitored, with a possibility that resettlement needs for these
refugees may increase in 1998....


 ...On average, during the course of 1997, the Resettlement Section
initiated more than one emergency submission per week, and the acceptance
rate exceeded 90 percent.  Emergency submissions involving refugees of 13
nationalities were made to nine receiving countries.  The willingness of
these countries - especially Denmark, Norway and Sweden - to consider
emergency submissions reflects a particular sensitivity to the protection
needs of these refugees as well as flexibility in implementing
resettlement.  A priority in 1998 will be to work with resettlement
countries to increase, where possible, capacity to address emergency and
urgent resettlement needs, and to improve co-ordination so that the
response time for regular submissions is reduced....