Introduction

After the 5-6 July 1997 event, there many Cambodian people went to Thailand to take refuge, creating three refuge camps as follows:

In October 1997 the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) signed an agreement with UNHCR for the returning of the refugee people from the above mentioned camps. At the first step, CRC began to deal with the return of refugees from Huy Cheoun camp through Poy Pet to the Kang Va camp based in Sisophon, Banteay Meanchey province. These returnees then were allowed to go back to the province of their origin at choice. After the election, the improved political situation in Cambodia constituted the increase in the number of refugees willing to come back to their homeland, which made CRC difficult to cope with the transportation of the increased number of refugees. As a matter of fact, since Jan 5 the returning operation has been organized in a larger scale for several times with a short period to be prepared for. As a result, the previous planned operations had to be revised accordingly.

By the end of 1998, with the formation of the new coalition government, the political situation is improved, and the Royal Government issued the letter 10 dated 4 Jan 1999 instructing CRC to take fall responsibility for the return of the refugees.

CRC began negotiations with HCR to design strategy for the quick return of refugees, based on the principles of safety, dignity, and free choice for final destination.

1- Via Poy Pet

The transportation of refugees from the HRC camp was organized by Thai counterpart with private buses until Poy Pet, where the refugees were transferred to the CRC trucks to be transported to Kang Va camp in Sosophon. After staying for 2 days, the refugees were sent to the homeland either by the CRC trucks or private cars depending on the number of refugees going to each destination.

a) Refugee Statistics

1997: between 10/97 and 12/97

1998: between 01/98 and 12/98

1999: between 01/99 and 03/99

b) Strategy

- From Poy Pet to Kang Va: trucks were divided into two types, one for carrying luggage and materials, and another for people.

- 2 days of stay in Kang Va:

• The first day of arrival: registration of refugees to identify the final destination
• The second day: distribution of kits and foods

- From Kang Va to final destination: CRC provided trucks if the number of refugees to a destination is more than 40, and if the number is small they received the amount of money for taxi instead. At the same time on Feb 12 there was the arrival of returnees from Samlot. CRC also organized transportation of food to Anlong Veng.

c) Special conditions between Jan and March 1999

Based on the above statistics we observed the increase in the number of refugees in Kang Va camp in a frequent arrival for every week, and the final destination is much farther. In this case, CRC decided to change the strategy as the following:

- the delay of staying for one week or up to 10 days, in order to gather more people

- effective movement of trucks for timely transportation of refugees

2. Via Samlot from Chong Kov Plu

The previous request of CRC was stated that the return of refugees had to be organized through Poy Pet, given the better condition for CRC operation. However since January the situation has changed all for the better, and CRC agreed with HCR to open another access point in Samlot.

a) Preparation

Between Jan 8 and Feb 5 there were subsequent meetings among HCR, CMAC, CRC, Military Officers, and provincial, district authorities to discuss several issues as below:

1. Road safety: mines, demining, and responsibility

2. How to transport the refugees from HCR, role of CRC;

3. Where to organize distribution of kits, food;

4. Road and bridges reconstruction and construction of temporally camp (local authority is in charge)

b) Operation

Following 6 meetings, particularly between CRC and HCR, decisions were made as the following:

- A location near the bridge O Ta Teak was chosen for CRC headquarter situated about 16 kin from the refugee camp and 20 km from Ta Sanh, district center of Samlot;

- The distribution of kits and food is committed by CRC and WFP;

- The refugees travel from the camp to receive food and kits and continue to travel to the final destination by their own;

- Specify the schedule of returning

c) Note

1. Between 0 Ta Teak and Bridge Dong Tong, where CRC trucks are carrying foods and materials for the refugees, CRC is willing to help those families who travel in this road section;

2. Of the refugees via Samlot 521 families with 2048 person went to Veal Veng to settle in 5 commune in Pur Sat province;

3. A lot of refugees would like to return to 7 commune in Samlot district, where some villages have poor road access, uncertainty of mines because of being long abandoned, for example village Chamlong Kouy, Lpeou etc.

d) Statistics and Schedule

e) Veal Veng, Pur Sat

The district has the same mine and access problem as in Samlot, and contains 5 communes under administration:

Most of the 2048 returnees from Samlot would like to live in Pra Moy and Kra Peu Pi communes. These people received food for about 50 days and would face the food shortage in the rainy season, because they have little capability to clear forest for fice field. WFP has a plan to provide food assistance to these people, but do not yet decide. CRC had requested WFP to decide as quickly as possible, in order for timely distribution before the rain starts.

3. Via AnIong Veng

The refugees left the camp in Sisaket by their own for Cambodia to settle in 2 districts, namely Anlong Veng and Tra Peang Prasat.

a) Geography and Statistics

The district has one district hospital supported by Medicine San Frontier (MSF) and primary school. Pure water supply is critical during the dry season, only one pond is available. The roads from district to communes are not good but clear of mines.

2) Tra Peang Prasat has 6 communes