The Indochinese Refugee Dilemma

Massive refugee migrations in Southeast Asia set off in 1975 by changes of government in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, are a problem of both humanitarian and political concern. The refugees pose potentially disruptive political problems for the asylum countries, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Hong Kong. Only a few countries, the United States, France, Australia, and Canada, have accepted an appreciable number of refugees for resettlement. In an effort to obtain worldwide participation in alleviating the Indochina refugee crisis, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has changed its funding program and has held international conferences aimed at obtaining more resettlement offers. It is imperative that appropriate asylum and additional temporary care facilities be provided and effectively managed. Current law does not clearly express U.S. intentions and commitments to refugee resettlement and has made planning and processing of refugees very difficult. Commitments need to be more formally embodied in law to express the will of Congress and possibly to motivate other nations to share refugee relief. A refugee admission and resettlement policy needs to be established.

Massive refugee migrations in Southeast Asia set off in 1975 by changes of government in Vietman, Cambodia, and Laos, are a problem of both humanitarian and political concern. The refugees pose potentially disruptive political problems for the asylum countries, Thailand, Malyasia, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Hong Kong. Only a few countries, the United States, France, Australia, and Canada, have accepted an appreciable number of refugees for resettlement. In an effort to obtain worldwide participation in aleviating the Indochina refugee crisis, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has changed its funding program and has held international conferences aimed at obtaining more resettlement offers. It is imperative that appropriate asylum and additional temporary care facilities be provided and effectively managed. Current law does not clearly express U.S. intentions and commitments to refugee resettlement and has made planning and processing of refugees very difficult. Commitments need to be more formally embodied in law to express the will of Congress and possibly to motivate other nations to share refugee relief. A refugee admission and resettlement policy needs to be established.

This report studies the situation of Indochinese refugees in the countries of first asylum in South East Asia and examines the process of resettlement in the United States. The report describes the policies of first asylum countries towards refugees and concludes that the refugee flow has significantly strained these Governments' capacity to provide even the basic facilities. The US resettlement process, including selection, is described and evaluated, with recommendations concerning the uncertain legal status of refugees, the inadequate social security services and medical problems. The report also contains sections on the work of UNHCR and voluntary agencies and their relations with the US Federal Government .

For half a century (ever since the Japanese invasion of 1942), much of Southeast Asia has been racked by war. In the last 20 years alone, some three million people fled their homes in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. This book is their story. It is also the story of the international community's response. Spearheading this was the United Nations agency responsible, UNHCR. It pioneered innovations like the Orderly Departure Programme, anti-piracy and rescue-at-sea efforts, and later on, ambitious reintegration projects for returnees. Today the camps in Southeast Asia are closed. Half a million people have returned home. Over two million have started new lives in the United States, Canada, Australia and France. This compelling book is the history of this modern exodus. It also takes stock and poses important questions. How did the flight of refugees and international response evolve? How do we measure the achievements and the failures of that international effort? What has been the legacy in Asia itself? And what lessons can be drawn for use in other refugee situations around the world?