Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-12-14-Speech-4-160"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2000-12-14"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:50th anniversary of the UNHCR2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20001214.6.4-160"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2000-12-14-Speech-4-1612
lpv:speaker	lp:Hanja Maij-weggen2
lpv:spokenAs	member_of_the_bureau; EPP-ED (1999-10-12--2002-03-07)3 substitute; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 member; Members from the European Parliament to the Joint Parliamentary Assembly of the Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union (ACP-EU) (1999-09-14--2002-01-14)3 member; AFCO (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 unknown; Christen Democratisch Appèl (1999-07-20--2003-09-30)3 substitute; Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, the UNHCR celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this month. This cannot, of course, be a reason to submit a resolution on urgent topics. The real reason is not so much the anniversary as it is the UN refugee organisation’s current plight. In 1980, the UNHCR looked after five million refugees. In 1990, this number rose to fifteen million and in 2000, the UNHCR cares for twenty-two million refugees worldwide. Of this number, there are 170 000 in Yugoslavia, 1.5 million in Eritrea/Ethiopia, 170 000 in Chechnya, 2 million in Sudan, 1.8 million in Congo, 200 000 near Burma, 130 000 in Timor, 300 000 in the Moluccas, 400 000 in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, and the list goes on. What makes it so difficult for the UNHCR is that whilst the number of refugees is rising, the resources required by the UN refugee organisation to coordinate the aid are falling. At the same time, fewer and fewer countries are abiding by the agreements of the Geneva Convention. The reception of refugees is not always secure, not by a long chalk. Violence, hunger, poor housing and other violations of human rights often play their part in the process. When I recently paid a visit to the Burmese camps on the border with Thailand, and asked what claimed most victims in those camps, the answer was: violence and suicide. The suicide rate is particularly high among young people who can no longer endure their bleak situations. The UNHCR is also asking for help from the Union, which has reduced its financial aid by more than 400% over the past few years. I would ask the Commission to re-instate this aid to the UNHCR and also to designate the UNHCR as the coordinating body in all its contracts with NGOs. The UN refugee organisation has an enormous task ahead. Let us give this organisation more support, enabling it to better fulfil its role over the next fifty years. Let us hope that after this Christmas period, those millions of refugees and aid workers can look forward to better times."@en1

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