PUBLIC INFORMATION 227.UNHCRcontinued itsefforts topromote greater publicawareness and understanding oftheworldwide refugee problem through theproduction and distribution ofvariedinformation material, through co-productions ofsuch material withthemediaandnumerous NGOs,throughdailysupplyofinformation to mediarepresentatives (journalists, radioandTVchannels) andthrough the organization ofspecial eventssuohasitinerant mediaseminars toregions with largerefugee populations, agalaconcert andaroundtableonxenophobia~ In addition, theOfficecontinued tofulfilitsresponsibility fortheplanning and implementation ofthepublicinformation programme oftheSecondInternational Conference onAssistance toRefugees inAfrica. 228.Throughout 1984UNHCRcontinued andintensified itsefforts tosensitize world publicopinion totheplightofrefugees inAfricaandtothebackground and objectives oftheSecondConference. Twosimultaneous international mediaseminars travelled toatotalofsixrefugee-affected countries inAfrica. Agalaconcert infavourofrefugees inAfrica, featuring anumberofmajorinternational artists, washeldatthePalaisdesNations inGenevaafewweekspriortotheConference. Theconcert wasbroadcast byseveral television networks. Otheractivities included aseriesofpublicinformation workshops fornon-governmental organizations organized inconjunction withUNHCRoffices inNewYork,Washington, London, Ottawa, TokyoandCanberra. Closeco-operation wasmaintained with non-governmental organizations intheplanning andexecution oftheir Conference-related publicinformation activities. Adetailed presskit,aslide set,aseriesofposters andphotographs wereamongtheothermaterial produced withinthecontext ofthisprogramme. TheConference itselfreceived widemedia coverage. 229.Themagazine "Refugees~ continued toprovide up-to-date information onrefugee problc~ms world-wide. Itwaspublished monthly, inEnglish andFrenchandspecial editions werepublished inArabic, Chinese, German,Italian andSpanish. 230.OtherpUblications included abooklet onUNHCR,acatalogue ofinformation material, photoandthematic posters, aworldrefugee mapandacalendar of photographs ofrefugee women. Aseriesof10"country fact-sheets" provided detailed andregularly updated information onUNHCRassistance programmes in Central America andMexico, South-East Asia,Pakistan, Ethiopia, SOmalia, the Sudan,theUnitedRepublic ofTanzania, Zaire,andsouthern andWestAfrica. Other language versions ofthesematerials wereproduced asdemandwarranted. 231.Inthecourseoftheyear,thephotolibrary distributed some 43,000photographs (blackandwhiteandcolourslides) tothemedia,schools and NGOs.Inaddition toservicing external demand, thephotolibrary continued to provide support forallUNHCRPublicInformation publications andtoarrange exhibitions. 232.Duringtheperiodunderreview, UNHCRproduced twodocumentary filmswhich willshortly bereadyfordistribution: "Refugees inMexicoandCentral Amerioa" (working title)and"TheRoadtoItang"r afilmonrefugees fromsouthern Sudanin Ethiopia. Inaddition, UNHCRcontinued andintensified itspolicyoffilm co-productions withmajortelevision networkS, co-producing several filmson refugeesituations aroundtheworld. Theseco-production agreements, whichcontain -43-:1 II., .J 'I I""""~"~~!iJl-~"'. __!iil'--- I- J'provisions thattheresulting filmsmustbetelecast atRprimetimeRandthespare footage giventoUNHCRfornon-commercial use,continue toproveveryuseful. UNHCRfilmsaredistributed byUNHCRaswellasbysomemajorfilmdistribution agencies. 233.TheOfficeproduced anddistributed tapedradioprogrammes andinterviews, especially onICARA11,toBranchOffices, UnitedNations Radioandseveral national andinternational radio network~. 234.Publicinformation material intheformoffilms,colourslides, blackand whiteprints,posters, printed material, calendars andeducation kitswereprovided invarious languages tonon-governmental organizations.to support their fund-raising projects andinformation campaigns. 235.Inordertoassisttheworldmediatodevelop andsustain aninterest in refugee problems, regular contacts weremaintained withthepress,radioand television, numerous inquiries wereanswered andinterviews giventointerested
**Analysis**
The text describes the activities of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in promoting public awareness and understanding of the refugee problem worldwide. The UNHCR produces and distributes various information materials, organizes events, and cooperates with media and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to achieve this goal. The text highlights the importance of public information and education in addressing the refugee crisis.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Culture