Humanitarian aid: aid to uprooted people (refugees, displaced persons) in Asian and Latin American developing countries

In adopting the report by Mr Richard HOWITT (PSE, UK), the European Parliament approved the proposal, subject to a large number of amendments aimed at clarifying various definitions and specifying which operations the Community should support. * The beneficiaries: uprooted people originating from, or provisionally established in, any of the developing countries of Asia and Latin America, i.e.: - refugees as defined in the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees; - displaced persons who are displaced within their own countries; - returnees: persons who, having fled their country of origin, then decide of their own free will to return; - returned displaced persons who, having fled their place of origin, but who remain within their country of origin, decide of their own free will to return to their home area. Aid should also be available for: - the local population of the host country whose social, economic and administrative resources contribute to the aid; - demobilized armed forces plus their families; - persons in need of international protection because of a serious threat to their life, liberty or security as a result of persecution, armed conflict or serious public disorder. * Operations supported by the Community: - aid for the subsistence, upkeep and settlement of refugees and displaced persons in the host country; - aid to the local population in the host area; - aid for voluntary repatriation, including provision of independent monitoring and accompaniment; - aid for the resettlement of refugees and displaced persons in their places of origin or settlement in another place of their choice, including possible resettlement in a third country; - aid for socio-economic development and social reintegration, including conciliation/mediation support, in the areas to which refugees return; - aid for rehabilitation and development programmes including food self-sufficiency, the provision of shelter, sanitation, drinking water, education and basic infrastructure; - support for demilitarization initiatives including demobilization and reintegration of former armed forces into civilian life; - aid for operations to encourage awareness-building and safety with regard to mines; - aid for operations which provide legal advice and support to displaced persons to reclaim their land and property rights; - operations designed to reverse environmental damage caused by large population displacement; - specific programmes for women and to promote family unity including family tracing and reunification programmes; - aid in respect of the legal resolution of human rights violations against displaced persons. * The means deployed: the means could include studies, technical assistance, training and other services, supplies, works, and audits and evaluation and monitoring missions. Funds could be provided for the preparation of studies, using experts from the recipient country. The cost of such�