SETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28530, 8 March 1958, Page 4

SETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES

Work Of W orld Council

During 1957 the World Council, of Churches was responsible for resettling 28.146 of the world’s refugees, bringing the total resettled by that body in the last five years to 97,496. according to a report received from the National Council of Churches. The largest number of those moved in 1957 went to-the United States, and the next largest group —6773—went to Australia. Canada and South America received 5364 and 1472 respectively* Of these refugees 2688 were ‘White Russians from Hong Kong —persons who have twice been refugees from communism. There were 12.000 of them left in China, all of whom were registered with the World Council of Churches, for resettlement, the newspaper said.

i Now, for the first time, exit J permits are available from China, and all that is required is a country of asylum and transport. In January, 1958, Church World Service of the United States advanced 100,000 dollars to the High Commissioner for Refugees, so that the flow of movement from Hong Kong might not cease because of lack of response from national governments throughout ’ the world, to the needs of this work. Since that time several governments had promised contributions.

The member bodies of the World Council of Churches also contributed 1,172.000 dollars for the council’s operation in the Hungarian crisis. Just less than half of this came from churches in the United States, said the newspaper.