| International Federation of Red Cross |
| and Red Crescent Societies |
| Reglonal Delegation Kuala Lumpur |
25 January, 1999 |
| NEWS RELEASE |
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A rapid return of some 37,000 refugees to their homes in Cambodia from camps in Thailand is imminent and on Monday the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies -issued an international appeal for funds for resettlement assistance.
with the United Nations High Coinmissioner for refugees (UNHCR), the Cambodian Red Cross plans to transport the approximately 10,000 families from three camps on the Thai border."There is now a real possibility of bringing a long-term refugee phenomena to an end and the Cambodian Red Cross, along with the Federation, intends to ease the process of resettlement as much as possible," said Seiya Tyminoksa, head of the Federation delegation in Phnom Penh.
With political tensions easing in Cambodia, what is now a trickle of refugees returning to their home country may turn into a flood. Humanitarian concerns for these refugees include access to sufficient food until they are able to harvest a nice crop, access to safe water, sanitation and shelter and prevalence of landmines in return areas.
The Red Cross is appealing for 500,000 USD for its resettlement prograrnmes. These include the provision of emergency household kits
- which contain items such as clothing, mosquito nets, construction tools, plastic sheeting, soap and containers - and specialised assistance to vulnerable groups,