HL Deb 30 June 1983 vol 443 c433WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What information they have about the work of the Tripartite Commission, to which the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the Governments of Djibouti and Ethiopia are parties, on repatriation of Ethiopian refugees now in Djibouti; what discussions have been held with the representatives of the refugees on this matter; how many have agreed to return and whether they will check reports that at the Ali Sabieh camp, 50 km south of Djibouti towards the Ethiopian frontier, the authorities have warned the inhabitants to evacuate themselves voluntarily or to sign papers indicating their willingness to be repatriated and have deprived the inhabitants of rations when none of them would comply with these orders.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)

We understand that following the Tripartite Commission's meetings of 31st January/1st February and 15/16th April the United Nations High Commission for Refugees has drawn up plans for the progressive voluntary repatriation of Ethiopian refugees presently in Djibouti and intends to ascertain the wishes of individual refugees shortly. We have no evidence of rations having been withheld in the manner described.