Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryChadians, Ethiopians, Guatemalans, Laotians, Mozambicans, Namibians, Nicaraguans, Salvadorians, Ugandans, Vietnamese andZimbabweans. Voluntary repatriation usually requires somebasicassistance tosatisfy theimmediate needsofreturnees and short-term rehabilitation andreconstruction initiatives toenablethereturnees to obtain astandard ofliving andself-sufficiency comparable tothatofthelocal population. Inaddition, long-term development assistance maybeneededinthe country oforigintofacilitate thereintegration ofreturnees. Therestoration or creation ofabasicinfrastructure inthecountry oforigin maynotonlybe essential butalsoactasacatalyst forrepatriation. Appropriate development typeprojects andinitiatives, implemented bythehostGovernment withdevelopment agencies support andappropriate UNHCRinvolvement, aimatfacilitating the integration ofreturnees intheircountry oforigin. 36.46 Aslongasvoluntary repatriation isnotpossible, localintegration inthe country offirstasylumisthenextpreferred durable solution. Thisimplies, however, afullintegration (legal, social, economic) oftherefugee inthehost country. UNHCRgenerally assists thehostcountries inidentifying, appraising, planning anddeveloping localintegration schemes, bothruralandurban,the ultimate objective beingtocreatesocio-economically viable communities where refugees canmeettheirbasicneedsandfullyintegrate intolocaleconomies. The HighCommissioner hasplacedcontinued emphasis overthepastyearsonan assessment oftheviability andefficiency ofsuchprogrammes inordertooptimize theallocation anduseofresources madeavailable bytheinternational community forthebenefit ofrefugees. Overthepastdecade, localintegration expenditures haveconstituted asubstantial partoftheUNHCRassistance programme. 36.47Resettlement inthirdcountries continues tobethedurable solution for individual refugees orrefugee groupsforwhomneither voluntary repatriation nor localintegration inthecountry offirstasylumwillguarantee asecure, stable anddignified future. Thecriteria forseeking resettlement, therefore, derive not onlyfromconditions inthecountry oforiginbutalsofromconditions inthe country offirstasylum. Somecountries permittemporary asylum oncondition that resettlement toathirdcountry willbeundertaken immediately orassoonas possible. Evenwherethisisnotthecase,ethnic, political oreconomic reasons mayrenderlocalintegration impossible, thusnecessitating efforts tofinda solution inathirdcountry. Ofthethreedurable solutions, resettlement invariably involves thegreatest upheaval andposesthegreatest challenge in readjustment termsfortheindividuals concerned. In1988,atotalof111,056 individuals wereresettled through UNHCRinterventions. Anincrease has,however, beennotedinresettlement needsinthepastfewyearsandthistrend,regrettably, showsfewsignsofabating intheimmediate future. Particular attention was focused, in1989and1990,onexpanded efforts toresolve thelndo-Chinese refugee phenomenon inthecontext ofaComprehensive PlanofAction drawnupatthe International Conference onIndo-Chinese Refugees, heldatGenevaon13and 14June1989. 36.48Possibilities ofresettlement assistance forwomen-at-risk increased during 1988.Certain resettlement countries nowseektoofferpriority torefugee women whoarefoundtobefacingparticular hardships. Through sucharrangements, women whowouldotherwise beineligible forresettlement shouldbeabletoobtain admission andenhanced support fortheirintegration onarrival intheresettlement country. -16- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library36.49 Thecontinued presence duringthepastdecadeoflarge-scale refugee populations indeveloping countries ofasylumhascreated developmental assistance needsthatgobeyond immediate reliefforbothrefugees andrefugee hosting areas. Moreover, voluntary repatriation intothedeveloping countries oforiginneedsto befacilitated bydevelopmental efforts inthoseareastowhichrefugees returned. TheHighCommissioner hasplayed acatalyst roleinco-operating withdeveloping agencies tocomplement ongoing assistance orinphasing~out hisassistance once
**Analysis**
The text discusses various durable solutions for refugees, including voluntary repatriation, local integration, and resettlement. It highlights the importance of providing assistance to returnees, including basic infrastructure, short-term rehabilitation, and long-term development initiatives. The text also mentions the need for development assistance to facilitate the integration of refugees in their countries of origin or in third countries. This suggests that the category should be related to humanitarian aid and relief, as well as economic development.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Economic development