Framework had not yet been fully established and reaffirmed the need for the IDNDR Secretariat to work closely with UNDRO.

UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), organized in 1951, is mandated to provide for legal protection of and material assistance to refugees, and to promote permanent solutions for refugee problems. These responsibilities are carried out on behalf of refugees falling within the scope of the Statute of the Office adopted by the General Assembly in 1950. In general, the Statute applies to those persons who are outside their country of nationality because of a well-founded fear of persecution by reason of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion and, because of such fear, are unable or unwilling to return to that country.

The Executive Committee of the UNHCR meets annually in Geneva to review the work of the UNHCR and approve the budget. The 41st session of the Executive Committee was held October 2-12.

UNHCR Programs

UNHCR's worldwide expenditures in 1990 totaled $544 million. This total included $103 million for General Program overall allocations and multiregional elements of Special Appeals. The United States contributed $112.5 million in support of UNHCR calendar year 1990 assistance programs.

UNHCR expenditures for programs in Africa totaled $170.5 million in 1990, $140.5 million under General Programs and $30 million under Special Programs. UNHCR continued to coordinate major international relief programs in Malawi, Ethiopia and Sudan. In 1990 the African refugee situation was greatly exacerbated by the addition of over 750,000 Liberian refugees who fled to Guinea, Sierra Leone and Cote d'Ivoire. The total number of African refugees grew to some 5 million, with UNHCR providing care and maintenance for some 4 million. In 1990 there were no significant numbers of refugees repatriated. Intensified fighting in Angola stymied the planned refugee repatriation. Large and growing problems remained in the Horn of Africa and Mozambique in the form of continued fighting, drought and new influxes. UNHCR found itself constrained in responding to these emergencies by the overall funding crisis in international humanitarian assistance that began to be felt in 1989. UNHCR was able to meet only the most basic of life-sustaining needs and even that fell short in some cases. In 1990 U.S. contributions to UNHCR programs throughout the region totaled $61.1 million.

UNHCR programs in Asia totaled $105.2 million, $55.4 million under the General Program and $49.8 million under the Special Program. The United States contributed $23.7 million.

At the end of 1990, the region-wide population in UNHCR camps was 206,883, including 122,547 Vietnamese, 67,426 Laotians and 16,910 Cambodians. During 1990 record numbers of Vietnamese (6,293) and Laotians (9,147) repatriated voluntarily to their respective homelands. The outflow from Vietnam was reduced by over 80 percent during the year. The reduction has been attributed to the UNHCR public awareness program of the Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA); letters home from the various holding camps in Asia; and vigorous publication of the CPA and its provisions by the Voice of America and other national broadcasting services.

In addition to its role in implementing the CPA, UNHCR, as lead agency for Cambodian repatriation, continued planning to repatriate more than 310,000 Cambodians displaced in Thailand within the framework of a comprehensive political settlement. In 1990 the United States contributed more than $1.8 million in support of UNHCR and Royal Thai Government cooperative plan to combat pirate attacks on Vietnamese boat refugees in the Gulf of Thailand and for other rescue-at-sea activities.

The principle of first asylum was maintained in all Asian nations, except Malaysia. The push-off policy instituted by Malaysia resulted in a staggering increase in arrivals in Indonesia. Despite explosive growth in the camp population of Galang (from about 2,500 to over 20,000 in less than 1 year) the Government of Indonesia continued to allow the asylum seekers to land and receive first asylum. Another element of the CPA is its emphasis on legal means of departure; in 1990, 48,131 Vietnamese emigrated legally from Vietnam to the United States.

In Europe and North America UNHCR programs to assist refugees totaled $36.4 million. East-West migration was a major focus in the region as reunification of Germany, the move towards democracy and liberalization in Eastern Europe, and unsettled conditions in the U.S.S.R. led countries to review refugee policies, asylum legislation and practices, and adjudication procedures in close consultation with UNHCR. UNHCR moved to assist the nations of Eastern Europe in addressing refugee and asylum issues, adoption of legislation or administrative regulations, new passport and travel regulations, and general support for UNHCR activities.

In 1990 UNHCR programs in Europe were designed primarily to assist refugees in transit and awaiting repatriation or permanent resettlement. UNHCR continued as Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance in Cyprus; the United States contributed $8.3 million to UNHCR's Cyprus program.

UNHCR expenditures for refugee protection, care and repatriation in Latin America totaled $37.1 million in 1990, with the largest programs in Honduras, Costa Rica, Mexico and Nicaragua. Improvement in conditions in some countries of origin, camp fatigue and regional peace efforts spurred voluntary repatriation under UNHCR auspices. Some 8,000 Salvadoran refugees

returned home from Honduras during the first 3 months of the year, with only 2,300 remaining behind. Following the April 1990 inauguration of a democratic government in Nicaragua, UNHCR organized the voluntary repatriation of Nicaraguan refugees from Honduras and Costa Rica, some 35,000 of whom returned before the end of the year. UNHCR also implemented the UN program of care and repatriation for former Nicaraguan Resistance (RN) and their families in Honduras, which was successfully completed with the repatriation of almost 19,000 people. U.S. contributions to support these UNHCR programs totaled over $19.7 million.

At the same time, UNHCR continued and expanded protection and assistance activities and its search for durable solutions for refugee communities such as the 43,000 Guatemalans in southern Mexico. These people were being helped toward self-sufficiency while awaiting developments in Guatemala which would influence repatriation decisions.

UNHCR worked closely with both the affected nations of the Latin American region and prospective donor countries to stimulate progress on the Plan of Action of the 1989 International Conference on Central American Refugees (CIREFCA). A June 1990 follow-up meeting in New York led to significant donor country contributions for projects which aid reintegration of repatriates as well as those which enable refugees unwilling to repatriate to play meaningful roles in their countries of asylum.

During 1990 UNHCR expended $84.4 million to maintain large groups of refugees in Pakistan, Iran, Algeria and Mauritania.

UNHCR continued its joint program with Pakistan to provide food, shelter, health services, education and vocational training to over 3 million Afghans, while supporting Iran in assisting over 2 million Afghan refugees. With no political settlement to the Afghan conflict, large-scale repatriation of the world's largest refugee population was on hold. However, spontaneous return of significant numbers of refugees fron Baluchistan in the spring led UNHCR and WFP to implement a pilot repatriation project in August. A parallel effort was underway inside Afghanistan to assist Afghans returning from Iran. Meanwhile, UNHCR continues to work with the UN coordinator for Humanitarian Programs (UNOCA) on rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in Afghanistan. In 1990 the United States contributed $12 million to UNHCR's Afghan refugee program in Pakistan, bringing our total nonfood cash contributions since 1980 to over $228 million.

In North Africa, UNHCR continued to assist an estimated 80,000 refugees in the Tindouf area of Algeria. The UN Secretary General presented a report to the Security Council in June on moving toward a solution of the Western Sahara question which included an outline of an eventual UNHCR repatriation program. UNHCR also continued to assist 25,000 persons from Senegal who have sought refuge in Mauritania.

General Assembly

Twelve resolutions on refugee-related matters were introduced in the Third Committee; nine were related to refugees in Africa (including Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Liberia, Malawi, Somalia and Sudan) and one each to refugees in Central America, to the Office of the High Commissioner, and to enlargement of the UNHCR Executive Committee.

Resolution 45/137, "International Conference on the Plight of Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in Southern Africa," was adopted without a vote. The United States did not participate because it felt that the resolution did not adequately reflect progress that had occurred in the past year.

The United States did not participate in the action on resolution 45/138, "Enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Program of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees," because of its opposition in principle to expansion of executive committees or other governing bodies of UN specialized agencies and organizations.

The United States also did not participate in the adoption of refugee-related resolutions concerning Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Malawi, Somalia and Sudan. The U.S. statement in the General Assembly was that combining these resolutions would contribute to rationalization and the reduction of duplication; elements of the Sudan resolution appeared inaccurate or inappropriate; and reactivation of the interim program for emergency assistance in Somalia required agreement on a broader framework, including security measures.

The United States supported the election of Sadako Ogata as UN High Commissioner for Refugees for a 3-year term of office beginning January 1, 1991. (Decision 45/319.)

In her statement before the Third Committee, the U.S. Representative to the Third Committee called upon the international community to renew its commitment to refugees, citing in particular the need for conflict resolution, amelioration of human rights conditions and full funding for UNHCR. The U.S. Representative praised UNHCR for its work, especially in the Gulf.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

The 45th General Assembly adopted a number of resolutions relating to the world social situation, the aging, the disabled, the youth and the family.

Resolution 45/87, "World social situation," was adopted by a vote of 146 to 1 (U.S.), with 4 abstentions. The United States questioned both the relevancy and the language of the resolution, which did not contribute to the improvement of the world social situation in a meaningful way. Another

resolution concerning the world social situation, "Achievement of social justice" (Resolution 45/86), was adopted without a vote.

The United States considers the aging issue to be one of the most important in the UN social affairs area, and recognizes the global implications of a growing aging population. At the 45th session of the General Assembly, the United States joined consensus on a resolution entitled "Implementation of the International Plan of Action on Aging and related activities." (Resolution 45/106.) It designated October 1, 1990, as International Day for the Elderly, and recommended global discussion to review and appraise implementation of the International Plan of Action on Aging. It also took note of the establishment of the Banyan Foundation, an independent foundation on aging with UN patronage intended to serve as an international fund-raising vehicle for aging programs worldwide.

The United States supports UN programs for the disabled and traditionally cosponsors a General Assembly resolution on the disabled. The 45th UN General Assembly received the Secretary General's report on ways to mark the end of the International Decade of the Disabled in 1992, as directed by 1989 Assembly resolution 44/70. The United States joined consensus on a resolution entitled "Implementation of the World Program of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the UN Decade of Disabled Persons." (Resolution 45/91.) The resolution noted the Secretary General's suggestion to consider a ministerial-level world conference to mark the end of the Decade, but urged member states to promote action-oriented programs within existing resources instead.

The 45th UN General Assembly received a report of the Secretary General on youth issues as directed by the 1989 General Assembly resolution 44/59 and adopted a resolution entitled "Policies and programs involving youth" (Resolution 45/103) without a vote. The resolution called upon member states to promote educational and employment opportunities for youth, and directed the Secretary General to continue to develop methods facilitating communication and coordination among member states, the UN system and nongovernmental organizations on youth issues.

The United States strongly supports protection and strengthening of the family as the basic social and economic unit of society. The 45th UN General Assembly adopted resolution 45/133, "International Year of the Family," without a vote. This resolution requested the Secretary General to finalize a draft program for the preparation and observance of the International Year of the Family in 1994. The General Assembly also adopted resolution 45/134, "Followup to the guiding principles for developmental social welfare policies and programs in the near future, and the negative social consequences of alcohol use," without a vote. The resolution requested the Secretary General to report to the Commission for Social Development on the Expert Meeting on the Negative Social Consequences of Alcohol Use.