begun should continue in some form within the existing institutional set-up. A/AC.96/SR.449 page 4 14. The Nordic coimtries considered that a budget of $378 million for General Programmes in 1990 was a minimum, and hoped, in view of UNHGR's serious financial situation, that all parties would share the responsibility. In 1989, the contributions of the Nordic countries (a total of approximately $100 million) had accounted for about 20 per cent of UNHGR's total resources. The Governments of the Nordic countries were willing to maintain that level of contribution in 1990 and even to make additional financial efforts, and called for similar efforts from other donors. 15. In Western countries which were by tradition generous to refugees, the steadily growing numbers of asylum-seekers and the increase in movements of people from South to North and from East to West were likely to present serious challenges in the years ahead. To resolve them, a balanced policy would need to be formulated and durable solutions of a global and humanitarian character would have to be sought jointly. 16. The Nordic countries supported the High Commissioner's endeavours to put the refugee question more firmly on the political agenda of the international community. Believing that new strategies should be developed in order to deal with the root causes as well as the resulting problems, they attached great importance to the consultations initiated by UNHCR with a number of Governments on the questions of asylum-seekers in Europe and North America, and very much hoped the process would achieve tangible results. 17. Mr. DUBAD (Somalia) expressed appreciation of the quality of the report of the Temporary Working Group (A/AC.96/742) and paid a tribute to the Nordic countries for the crucial role they had played during the Working Group's deliberations, in which Somalia had also taken an active part. If, as he 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the financial situation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the contributions of the Nordic countries. It also touches on the challenges posed by the growing number of asylum-seekers and the need for a balanced policy to address the refugee question. These topics suggest that the text is related to humanitarian aid and relief.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief