HEAVY BURDEN BORNE BY COUNTRIES FACING SUDDEN MOVEMENTS OF REFUGEES AMONG ISSUES DISCUSSED BY THIRD COMMITTEE
Press Release
GA/SHC/3506
HEAVY BURDEN BORNE BY COUNTRIES FACING SUDDEN MOVEMENTS OF REFUGEES AMONG ISSUES DISCUSSED BY THIRD COMMITTEE
19981112 Security of Humanitarian Workers, Abduction of Vincent Cochetel also Addressed by SpeakersThe heavy burden borne by some countries, especially developing countries, in dealing with sudden movements of large numbers of refugees across their borders was among the issues raised as the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) continued this morning its consideration of questions relating to refugees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions.
The representative of New Zealand said countries of first emergency asylum played a major part in humanitarian relief efforts for refugees, sometimes over a very long period and with very few resources. In some such affected countries, a prolonged influx of refugees had led to a breakdown in the domestic infrastructure.
The representative of Pakistan said that in most cases, the countries hosting large refugee populations were, mainly by "accident of geography", developing countries with fragile economies. The absence of an equitable international system of burden-sharing endangered the viability of the present system of protection. No single country was able to respond effectively to mass outflows of population without the support of the international community. Solidarity and burden-sharing should not be made preconditions for respecting the fundamental principles of non-refoulement and asylum.
One of the most horrible violations of human rights was to compel thousands of individuals to leave their homes, said the representative of Benin. When refugees did find shelter, they were prey to disease and famine, and threatened by refoulement. It was extremely difficult to deal with the problems of refugees, and it was therefore important to address the causes of refugee flows, which were usually violations of their human rights. To provide assistance without seeking resolution of the root causes of the movements of refugees was like opening an umbrella in a hurricane.
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Addressing the security of humanitarian workers, the representative of the Republic of Korea said the abduction of Vincent Cochetel, head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in the North Caucasus, in January, clearly demonstrated the precarious nature of the security situation of the UNHCR and other humanitarian agency staff. He called on all parties to consolidate their efforts to ensure the safety of humanitarian personnel.
Statements were also made by the representatives of Croatia, Egypt, Senegal, Yemen, Ukraine and the Russian Federation, as well as by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and of the World Food Programme (WFP).
The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. this afternoon to conclude its consideration of questions relating to refugees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions.
Committee Work Programme
The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this morning to continue its consideration of questions relating to refugees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions. (For background information, see Press Release GA/SHC/3504 of 11 November.)
Statements
ROGER BALL (New Zealand) said his Government acknowledged the heavy burden borne by some countries, especially developing countries, in dealing with sudden movements of large numbers of refugees across their borders seeking asylum. A particular recent instance was the refuge provided by neighbouring countries for some hundreds of thousands of Kosovars forced to flee their homes in recent months. Those countries of first emergency asylum had played a major part in humanitarian relief efforts for refugees, sometimes over a very long period and with very few resources. In some affected countries, a prolonged influx of refugees had led to a breakdown in the domestic infrastructure. Thus, his Government would ask donors to consider directing some of their relief assistance efforts to rebuilding that infrastructure to ensure that refugee affected areas were not unduly disadvantaged or deprived of basic facilities such as schools and sanitation.
Against that background of generosity and humanity in situations of mass influx into developing countries, care was needed to ensure there was no "erosion of accepted principles" in the treatment of individuals seeking asylum, particularly in developed countries, he said. Every asylum-seeker should receive a full and fair assessment to determine whether or not they were refugees. There must be no refoulement, no return of genuine refugees into a situation of danger. There was an economic cost to fulfilling international humanitarian obligations under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, which must be accepted. His Government's Parliament was currently considering a bill that would clarify the standing of its refugee status determinations and appeals process by giving it a statutory basis in domestic laws.
DUBRAVKA SIMONOVIC (Croatia) said her country bore the consequences of the displacement of hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons. In cases like Croatia and its neighbouring countries, fundamental conditions must be created whereby minority returns were not merely enforced on the community, but were accepted by them -- so that the displacement of 1.8 million people in the region could be resolved through peaceful co-existence. Reconciliation and rehabilitation activities were crucial elements for instigating voluntary returns and establishing necessary confidence-building in fragile post-conflict regions.
In 1998, Croatia had seen the successful transition of control from the United Nations Transitional Authority in the region of Eastern Slavonia to
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Croatian authorities, she said. A series of programmes endeavoured to create an environment conducive to voluntary returns and acted as catalysts enabling the process of two-way return to gain momentum. Over the years, it had become increasingly evident that the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons was linked to the search for durable solutions. In October, the Croatian Government had therefore adopted the Continuing Program for the Reconstruction of War-Affected Settlements in Croatia. The activities undertaken would help restore and strengthen trust and confidence for investments into war-affected parts of Croatia. Such investments would encourage the sustainable social and economic development of the affected regions.
KHALED NAZMI (Egypt) said the international arena had been a scene of refugee problems, which included the challenge of giving assistance to refugees and allowing them to return to their homes. Nobody doubted that in an international society there should be respect for human rights, but there were many obstacles, including the reintegration of the refugees at the end of conflicts. There was a need to apply the principle of voluntary return by persons. The success of the UNHCR and of other humanitarian agencies depended on international protection of refugees and on solving those problems through political will.
International protection was the responsibility of States, he said. Egypt was convinced that the problem of refugees was an aspect of humanitarian problems that had to be dealt with, regionally and globally, by Governments as well as United Nations and international assistance agencies. The efforts of all those bodies constituted a cornerstone for the return of refugees and to prevent their becoming displaced persons in their own country.
The problem in Africa was of great concern to the international community, he said. He cited the case of Palestine refugees, and said there must be a guarantee of their safety and compensation for lost property. That should be a priority of the United Nations. Despite the positive signs mentioned by the High Commissioner for Refugees and the Secretary-General, there were still many problems on the African continent. Efforts should be consolidated to solve those problems, as they impeded economic and social development of societies.
FASSASSI YACOUBOU (Benin) said one of the most horrible violations of human rights was to compel thousands of individuals to leave their homes. When they did find shelter, they were prey to disease and famine, and threatened by refoulement. It was a challenge to the conscience of the international community. He was gratified at the progress that had been achieved by the international community, and thanked the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the whole United Nations system, which had found lasting solutions to many problems.
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Since its democratization process had started in 1990, Benin had sheltered many refugees from different parts of Africa, he said. In those efforts, it had benefited from the assistance of the UNHCR. Benin had also agreed with the UNHCR on a resettlement project for 240 refugees. He said Benin was deeply grateful for the cooperation and assistance of the UNHCR, and also for the confidence it had shown in Benin by carrying out that pilot project.
It was extremely difficult to deal with the problems of refugees, and it was therefore important to address the causes of refugee flows, which were usually violations of their human rights. To provide assistance without seeking resolution of the root causes of the movements of refugees was like opening an umbrella in a hurricane.
IBRA DEGUENE KA (Senegal) said the problem of refugees in Africa was particularly difficult, and noted that the fragility of the political situation often discouraged refugees from returning to their countries. International norms were discarded by parties in armed conflict, and the means available to address the refugee problems were not commensurate with the task. Since it was better to prevent than to cure, preventive mechanisms should be strongly supported by the international community. His Government believed in the neutrality of humanitarian actions and the safety of humanitarian personnel. It was those principles that had prompted Senegal to contribute creating security corridors, particularly for the civilian population of Guinea-Bissau in 1998.
His Government welcomed the provisions which had allowed the various international humanitarian agencies to assist the civilian population in Guinea-Bissau, he said. He expressed the hope that the signing of the peace agreement between the two parties of that conflict would enable the safe return of refugees to Guinea-Bissau. His Government was particularly concerned with refugee children who were unaccompanied and without any moral and emotional support. They needed greater attention. In that regard, it was necessary to reinforce the efforts of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), UNHCR, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, as well as other non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Subregional and regional efforts were vital and should be strengthened everywhere.
NORIA AL-HAMAMI (Yemen) underlined the need to provide assistance to countries receiving refugees, particularly developing countries. Yemen was one such country. Her country had no control over the large influx of refugees and, as a result, had to face economic, health and social problems. The burdens of the situation were exacerbated by the dangerous by-product of the burgeoning of the activities of smugglers and other criminals, both Yemeni and from other countries, who sought to make profits from smuggling refugees across Yemen's borders. The large refugee flows were mostly a result of conflict in the Horn of Africa.
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The problem for Yemen was also exacerbated by the influx of people who did not qualify for asylum, she said. Yemen's resources were extremely limited. Another problem that the inflow of refugees only made worse was the forced return, as a result of the Persian Gulf War, of many Yemenis who had been working overseas. Yemen lacked adequate statistics on the situation, and often depended on statistics that had been gathered by the UNHCR in Sana'a. However, those often included only the refugees who had entered the country legally, and who came across the borders at known points of entry. Despite its problems, Yemen was committed to looking after the refugees, who were personally cared for by the Deputy Prime Minister. That was a reflection of the concern felt by the Government for those who had been forced to flee their homes. She hoped there would be more assistance from the international community in caring for them.
YEVHEN KOZIY (Ukraine) said the report dealing with the follow-up to the 1996 Regional Conference on Problems of Refugees, Displaced Persons and Other Forms of Involuntary Displacement in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Countries and Relevant Neighbouring States had revealed the complexity and acuteness of the migration processes, including political and humanitarian ones. It had also shown how international solidarity could solve the acute problems of refugees, displaced persons, and restoring historical justice for the former deported people returning to their original homeland in Crimea, Ukraine. The Steering Group had met this June and called for more effective, dynamic, concrete and country-oriented, political and financial support of the Geneva process at national and international levels. The follow-up should not be considered a technical exercise, but the basis for maintaining international security and stability by overseeing and controlling migration flows.
His Government had made significant progress in integrating the former deported persons into Ukrainian society, he said. The resettling of 260,000 former deported persons was an issue of special attention. Measures in legislative, social, cultural and other fields had been taken to speed up that process. In recent years, Ukraine had been an attraction for thousands of asylum-seekers from the zones of armed conflicts and inter-ethnic tensions in the neighbouring countries as well as in some countries of Asia and Africa. As of July, Ukraine had granted refugee status to about 3,000 persons.
His Government had adopted a number of laws on its migration policy, including a law on refugees in 1993, he said. As evaluated by competent international experts, Ukrainian legislation concerning refugees had met international standards. Because of its geographical location, Ukraine had become vulnerable to the flow of illegal immigrants since most of them considered Ukraine a transit territory for further movement to Western Europe. That kind of immigration was of deep concern and constituted a serious threat to public order and security in border regions and cities.
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SUH DAE-WON (Republic of Korea) said that over 22 million refugees relied on the protection and assistance of the UNHCR. With the increasing trend of ethnic and religious conflicts, that alarmingly high figure was likely to increase. The international community must explore ways and means to address and resolve the refugee problem through closer regional and international cooperation. Comprehensive approaches to international solidarity and burden-sharing should be encouraged to cope with the current complex refugee situations in more effective and flexible ways. Burden-sharing should extend beyond mere protection and assistance of refugees. It should take into account the economic, social, political and security implications that refugee and returnee populations had on host and home countries. The importance of political will could not be overstated.
The abduction of Vincent Cochetel, head of the UNHCR office in Vladikavkaz, in January this year, clearly demonstrated the precarious nature of the security situation of the UNHCR and other humanitarian agency staff, he said. That was a grave concern, and it was of utmost urgency to call on all parties concerned to consolidate their efforts to ensure the safety of humanitarian personnel. Tribute should be paid to those who risked their lives in difficult and dangerous conditions to fulfil their duties. The problem of security could not be addressed through administrative measures. It must be dealt with in the broader context of political support for humanitarian actions.
ANDRE NIKIFOROV (Russian Federation) said that addressing the follow-up to the Conference in Geneva on refugees was a priority for his Government, which had taken many measures to increase human rights for refugees and migrants. It had developed a system for immigration control, as well as epidemiological measures for migrants. The migrant situation was far from simple. Since 1992, 5 million persons had settled in Russia from the CIS countries and the Baltic. From July this year, 173,000 persons were recognized as refugees, and almost 1 million were displaced persons. Further, there was a constant flow of transit migrants.
According to estimates, more than 700,000 foreigners were in Russia in infringement of legal rules, he said. That had to be addressed, particularly given the financial situation Russia was facing. The Geneva Conference had put the primary responsibility on States and had called for international solidarity. There was a need to improve international mechanisms for the problem of migrants. Institutional arrangements would enable the UNHCR to react to the humanitarian crisis and to conduct a consistent line in responding to populations which had to leave their homes. In a spirit of constructive cooperation, the High Commissioner for Refugees and others had made valuable contributions. Unfortunately, insufficient attention was paid by the international community to the problem of migrants in the CIS countries. Efforts by Russia and other countries had not triggered a sufficient response. Tangible deeds were needed to instill confidence in those people who had experienced displacement. In that regard, the Russian
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Federation had drafted a resolution, which would be a step forward since the Geneva Conference decision.
ZORAN JOVANOVIC, representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said the absence of respect for humanitarian rules in armed conflicts had resulted in terrible atrocities, actions that reflected a disdain for the principles of human conscience. The atrocities were even worse in ethnic conflicts. He recalled the relevance of international humanitarian law concerning those who did not take part in conflicts. Attacks on civilians violated the protection that was laid down in article 3 of all four Geneva Conventions.
The ICRC was attempting to protect all victims of war and armed violence, he said. It had followed with interest the work of Francis Deng, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons. It was also happy to have cooperated in the formulation of the Guiding Principles concerning internally displaced persons, which included the protections laid down by international humanitarian laws, and would be distributed in areas of ICRC action.
He welcomed his organization's cooperation with the UNHCR. In areas where the two organizations were in the field together, frank discussions generally allowed them to avoid overlapping each other's work. He said he could not conclude without referring to Vincent Cochetel, head of the UNHCR office in the North Caucuses, who was taken hostage 11 months ago, as well as all other humanitarian staff being held hostage. The aim of such actions was the removal of humanitarian organizations that were there only to protect the people in local areas.
MUNAWAR SAEED BHATTI (Pakistan) said the voluntary return or repatriation of refugees had been recognized as a preferred solution for refugee problems. But there were prerequisites to promoting and encouraging voluntary repatriation. Those included the return of peace and security, the reconstruction of infrastructural facilities, the clearance of unexploded landmines and the creation of conducive living and working conditions. The international community must help the affected countries in creating enabling environments for the voluntary repatriation, rehabilitation and reintegration of refugees in their countries of origin.
Unfortunately, in most cases, the countries hosting large refugee populations were developing countries with fragile economies, he said. His Government believed the concept of international solidarity, and burden-sharing had become more central to the protection needs of refugees today than at any time since the 1951 Convention was negotiated. The magnitude of that problem was far beyond what had been anticipated by the drafters of the Convention. No single country, whether developed or developing, was able to respond effectively to mass outflows of population without the support of the international community.
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Thus, Pakistan, which had hosted 3.2 million Afghan refugees for more than a decade, would reiterate that burden-sharing was fundamental to large-scale inflows or mass influxes, and that the absence of an equitable international system of burden-sharing endangered the viability of the present system of protection. Solidarity and burden-sharing could not be made preconditions for respecting the fundamental principles of non-refoulement and asylum. He noted that developing countries, mainly by "accident of geography", continued to receive and host large numbers of refugees. He stressed that the protection of refugees was an international obligation and responsibility, and thus, burden-sharing was an obligation in all phases of a refugee problem, its development, the initial outflow, and the duration of the asylum period.
MOHAMMED EL KOUHENE, a representative of the World Food Programme (WFP), said his organization's refugee and other emergency relief work accounted for more than half of the people it served. In 1997, the WFP had provided relief assistance to approximately four million refugees and returnees, 15 million internally displaced persons and locally affected persons, and 10 million people affected by natural disasters. The WFP's meeting of basic food requirements for refugees also helped relieve the financial burden on host governments. The organization also helped to contain the enormous environmental impact of large refugee inflows. With regard to resettlement and rehabilitation, the WFP helped to reintegrate the returnees into its ongoing rehabilitation and development programmes in-country.
The transition from conflict to peace was a very complex problem, and more work was needed to establish linkages between core United Nations missions in the areas of peace and security, development and humanitarian affairs, he said. The WFP, along with the UNHCR and other United Nations partners, was presently working on building operational synergies in the United Nations response. The relationship between the WFP and the UNHCR was one of the most significant in the United Nations system. They had worked together to increase effective coordination and complementarity in all phases of refugee feeding operations.
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