theirillegal entryorpresence. -7-4.Physical safetyofrefugees 30.Theserious problem ofthephysical safetyofrefugees continued tomanifest itselfinthereporting period, mainlyinregions oftheworldwiththelargest concentrations ofrefugees -Africa, AsiaandCentral America. Whileitis,of course, theprimary responsibility ofthecountry ofasylumtoensurethesafetyof refugees onitsterritory, UNHCR,intheexercise ofitsinternational protection function, alsohasaclearanddirectinterest inensuring, onbehalfofthe international community, thatthesafetyofpersons underitsmandate isnot threatened orviolated. 31.Inhisprevious report, theHighCommissioner referred tothequestion of military andarmedattacks onrefugee campsandsettlements whichinrecentyears hadresulted inthedeathofthousands ofinnocent persons. Onthebasisofa i ~reportprepared byaformerUnitedNations HighCommissioner forRefugees, Ambassador FelixSchnyder, theExecutive Committee hadstudied various aspects of theproblem including therespective responsibilities ofthecountry ofasylum, the country oforigin, theinternational community andtherefugees themselves in tavoiding suchattacks. Atitsthirty-fifth session, theExecutive Committee !continued itsconsideration ofastatement ofdraftprinciples onthismatterbut ~wasunabletoreachaconsensus. Itishopedthatnegotiations onthismatter, ~whicharecurrently proceeding, willmakeitpossible toidentify practical !rnodalities torespond tothehumanitarian aspects ofthisproblem. Theneedfora!response hasbecomeincreasingly urgentsincearmedattacks onrefugee campsand ;,settlements continued duringthereporting period. Itis,however, encouraging to notethattheGeneral Assembly atitsthirty-ninth session unanimously adopted a resolution which,interalia,condemned suchattacks.!I 32.Itisalsodisturbing tonotethatduringthereporting periodrefugees in campsandsettlements weretheobjectofmilitary orarmedattacks notonlyfrom acrossinternational borders butalsofromwithin. Inafewcountries armed elements wereroutinely allowed accesstorefugee campswiththeostensible object ofmaintaining security, butonanumberofoccasions theyproceeded toresortto serious actsofviolence against refugees andtorobthemoftheirpossessions. In another country, heavily armedgroupscontinued anearlier practice ofillegally entering aUNHCRcampinordertoharassrefugees, someofwhomwerekilled, raped orrobbed. ThematterhasbeendulytakenupbyUNHCRwiththeauthorities ofthe country concerned. 33.ijhiledeplorable actsofpiracycontinued tobecommitted against asylum­ seekers intheSouthChinaSea,1984witnessed anencouraging decline inthe percentage ofboatsattacked. Ofthetotalnumberofboatsarriving inboth Thailand andMalaysia, 34percentwereattacked in1984,ascompared with 43percentin1983.Thelevelojviolence associated withsuchattacks has, however, remained high.During1984,thenumberofknowndeathsattributed to piracywas59,while"130abductions werereported and110womenwereknowntohave beensexually assaulted. UndertheAnti-Piracy Arrangement established bythe RoyalThaiGovernment, whichhasnowbeenextended forathirdyearthrough the co-operation ofa'numberofdonorGovernments, efforts havecontinued tocombatthe problem. Measures currently undertak~n underthisArrangement include preventive seaandairpatrols, follow-up investigation andprosecution ofsuspects onland andthenationwide registration offishing boats. UNHCRnoteswithsatisfaction thatcompared toprevious years,therewasamarkedincrease inthenumberof individual suspects brought totrialduring1984andthefirstquarter of1985. -8-~.p!iii\mI'n "" ", 34.Another aspectofensuring thephysical safetyofasylum-seekers towhich UNHCRhascontinued todevotefurtherattention istherescueofasylum-seekers in distress atsea.Itmayberecalled thattheExecutive Committee atits thirty-fifth session notedwithconcern thattherescues ofasylum-seekers in distress atseahaddecreased significantly in1983andagainin1984andstrongly recommended thattheproposed RescueatSeaResettlement Offers (RASRO) scheme be implemented on atrialbasisassoonaspossible andthatadditional resettlement placesforthispurpose beprovided asamatterofurgency.11Theobjective of thisschemeistofacilitate thedisembarkation ofasylum-seekers, bysetting an annualmaximum resettlement intakeforeachparticipating country, thescheme
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the safety and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers, with a focus on the physical safety threats they face, such as military and armed attacks, piracy, and other forms of violence. The text also mentions the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to ensure the safety of refugees and asylum-seekers, including the rescue of those in distress at sea.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, International relations