Future efforts will focus on situation specific approaches, notably for protracted refugee situations.

(b) Acknowledges the importance of comprehensive approaches especially for the resolution of protracted and large scale refugee situations, which incorporate, as appropriate and given the specifics of each refugee situation, voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement

One approach to address a protracted refugee situation during the reporting period concerned the Convention Plus initiative to establish a comprehensive plan of action (CPA) for Somali refugees launched in July 2004.

In 2004, some two thirds of the global refugee population remained in limbo in protracted situations.

Protracted refugee situations, which had lasted for more than five years, were a different type of obstacle.

Norway welcomed the High Commissioner's decision to conduct an annual review of all the protracted refugee situations with a view to formulating comprehensive plans of action, when conditions allowed, and stressed that the patience of the international community with regard to the refugee situation was running out.

The visit provided an opportunity to further raise interest among donor countries concerning this protracted refugee situation and to clarify a number of points regarding, in particular, issues relating to food distribution, including recurrent breakdowns in the food pipeline.

UNHCR must play a mobilizing role in that area and focus greater attention on the necessity of resolving protracted refugee problems.

The Convention Plus initiative was already a success in progress, and the Framework for Durable Solutions held great promise even for protracted refugee situations.

At the beginning of 2004, 38 protracted refugee situations accounted for 6.2 million refugees who had been in exile for five or more years.

In 2004, the challenges of ensuring access to protection, making major voluntary repatriation movements sustainable and promoting the resolution of protracted refugee situations persisted.

In 2004, the challenges of ensuring access to protection, making major voluntary repatriation movements sustainable and promoting the resolution of protracted refugee situations persisted.

Protracted displacement with little hope of solutions in sight remains the situation of millions of displaced persons worldwide.

Many protracted situations remain, with little prospect of early solutions. The situation in Darfur remains of gravest concern.

The Lord's Resistance Army and the refugee situation are examples of this.

The self reliance of refugees is a vital means to reduce dependence on humanitarian assistance and to prepare refugees for durable solutions, particularly in protracted refugee situations.

A protracted hostage situation involving United Nations staff in Kabul was successfully resolved during the months of October and November 2004.

A protracted hostage situation involving United Nations staff in Afghanistan was successfully resolved during the months of October and November 2004.

Particular refugee groups targeted are ones in protracted situations who chose not to repatriate or who come from extremely volatile and insecure areas and for whom return is not an option.

Protracted situations

Ms. Mtawali (United Republic of Tanzania) said that her Government continued to host the largest protracted refugee caseload in Africa and that it needed more international assistance to provide essential facilities and services.

This situation specific approach is already evident in a number of refugee operations being pursued by UNHCR.

The European Union would therefore develop regional protection programmes, initially on a pilot basis, aimed at addressing protracted refugee situations in close partnership with third countries concerned, UNHCR, and, where relevant, other international organizations.

In the paper he had submitted in June 2004 on protracted refugee situations, the High Commissioner had indicated that while camps saved lives in the beginning, in the end they wasted those same lives.

The current global refugee situation required an effective and equitable mechanism for ensuring international responsibility and burden sharing.

He was encouraged, however, by positive developments which would enable millions of such persons to return to their countries in safety and dignity as durable solutions were found to various protracted refugee situations in Africa.

Concerning the situation in the Tindouf refugee camps, testimony by survivors who had managed to flee was almost unbearable.

The tragic situation of unaccompanied refugee minors, to whom the Geneva conventions should apply, also gave cause for concern.

Ms. Mtawali (United Republic of Tanzania) noted that the refugee situation in many African countries was characterized by large numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons, unpredictability, newly emerging refugee situations and underfunding.

25. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner and interested States to identify protracted refugee situations which might lend themselves to resolution through the development of specific, multilateral, comprehensive and practical approaches to resolving such refugee situations, including improvement of international burden and responsibility sharing and realization of durable solutions, within a multilateral context

27. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner and interested States to identify protracted refugee situations which might lend themselves to resolution through the development of specific, multilateral, comprehensive and practical approaches to resolving such refugee situations, including improvement of international burden and responsibility sharing and realization of durable solutions, within a multilateral context

Encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and interested States to identify protracted refugee situations which might lend themselves to resolution through the development of specific, multilateral, comprehensive and practical approaches to resolving such refugee situations, including improving international burden and responsibility sharing and realizing durable solutions, within a multilateral context

Mr. Kapoma (Zambia) said that new large scale emergencies continued to occur in spite of marked progress in the world's refugee situation.

UNHCR and its resettlement partners also sought to use resettlement more strategically, to maximize benefits for resettled refugees, facilitate comprehensive solutions to protracted refugee situations, improve the asylum space in countries of asylum and share burdens and responsibilities more equitably.

The situation of indigenous women, in particular displaced and refugee women, is particularly severe, and should be addressed through targeted, culturally appropriate programmes.

As the German government and some corporate leaders, including the CEO of Daimler Benz, have already recognized, an open minded approach to refugee absorption and integration can help to mitigate some of Europe s protracted structural problems. After all, a significant proportion of the incoming refugee population is said to be educated, motivated, and committed to building a better future in their new homes.

We commit ourselves to safeguard the principle of refugee protection and to uphold our responsibility in resolving the plight of refugees, through efforts aimed at addressing the causes of displacement, bringing about the safe and sustainable return of these populations, finding durable solutions for refugees in protracted situations and preventing refugee movement from becoming a source of tension among States.

The international community should be less hesitant about placing the refugee issue high on the agenda in its relations with the parties concerned. The 40 protracted refugee situations identified by the High Commissioner in his report bore witness to a widespread failure of those in power to live up to their responsibilities, at a terrible cost to millions of human beings.

We commit ourselves to safeguard the principle of refugee protection and to uphold our responsibility in resolving the plight of refugees, through efforts aimed at addressing the causes of displacement, bringing about the safe and sustainable return of these populations, finding durable solutions for refugees in protracted situations and preventing refugee movement from becoming a source of tension among States.

She stated that the text sought to draw the international community's attention to the precarious situation of unaccompanied refugee children, a particularly vulnerable group.

The plight of the Saharawi refugees in camps in Tindouf in Algeria who have been separated from their communities of origin in Western Sahara for decades represents another example of an ongoing protracted situation.

We are especially distressed by the extremely low number of refugee returns, which are the most useful indicator for assessing the situation in the province.

Welcomes the development by the High Commissioner, in cooperation with other United Nations agencies and development actors, of the framework for durable solutions, aimed at promoting lasting solutions, particularly in protracted refugee situations, including the 4Rs approach (repatriation, reintegration, rehabilitation and reconstruction) to sustainable return

The refugee situation was being looked into by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Government had taken measures to provide aid to them.

Since April 2005 UNHCR has been working with AIHRC on monitoring the human rights situation, particularly in areas with significant levels of refugee and IDP returns.