Donors pledge $15.6 million for Kampuchean relief.

Donors pledge $15.6 million for Kampuchean relief

Some $15.6 million for the Kampuchean relief programme was pledged by nine donor countries and the European Community on 6 March at a day-long donor meeting at United Nations Headquarters. Pledges were made to assist the efforts of the United Nations Border Relief Operation (UNBRO), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Contributions in cash and kind were made by: Austria, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Norway, Pakistan, Singapore, Switzerland, the United States and the European Community. At a meeting on 25 November 1985, donors had pledged some $6.2 million.

Tatsuro Kunugi, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Co-ordination of Kampuchean Humanitarian Assistance, said the need for aid to sustain the Kampuchean people was still great. As compared with the emergency situation that prevailed about a year ago, there was relative calm along the Thai/Kampuchean border. But some 250,000 Khmer civilians were still totally dependent on international relief aid. Agriculture, health and welfare situations inside Kampuchea had not fully recovered from the disruptions of the 1970s and remained precarious, he said.

Jamshid Anvar, Director and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Co-ordination of Kampuchean Humanitarian Assistance, said that in 1985, a record $19.8 million in cash had been contributed to UNBRO. In addition, inkind contributions had amounted to $15.8 million for UNBRO and $4.9 million for Kampuchea. He hoped that with the pledges just announced, the border operation could be continued beyond April/May 1986.

Yoon-Yul Kim, UNBRO Director, said every effort should be made by the international community to enable the voluntary repatriation of the refugees to Kampuchea. UNBRO was trying to make its operations more cost-effective by exploring the possibilities of having the Khmer people take on the responsibilities of their camp life, thus lessening their complete dependence on UNBRO. Water shortage was a major problem; UNBRO was building a dam in co-operation with Thailand.

Antoine Noel of the UNHCR said that in 1985, some 300,000 refugees had received assistance from the agency, while some 20,000 Kampucheans had been relocated in third countries. Various relief items were being supplied by UNHCR; two rural projects were progressing well.

Birabhongse Kasemsri (Thailand) was pleased at the relative calm prevailing along the Thai-Kampuchean border since mid-1985, the progress made with regard to water projects, the substantial savings made in purchasing food, and an improvement in the general health situation in the camps. The confirmed separation of armed elements from the civilian population of the camps was also "good news', he said.

However, the quarter of a million people on the Kampuchean border were totally dependent on international assistance. Despite the slackening of military activity, the situation on the whole and the plight of the displaced population remained precarious. Disturbances were possible in camps where there had been ostensible separation of armed elements and civilians. Third countries must open their doors to the refugees. "The root cause of the problem in Kampuchea remains unresolved', he said. Every effort must be made to bring about the voluntary repatriation of the refugees to Kampuchea.

Photo: Hunger and despair in Kampuchean refugee camp in Thailand.