Ford Foundation Gives $2,900,000 to U.N. for Aid to Refugees

A gift of $2,900,000 to help the United Nations find a permanent answer to the quest of refugees for homes and sanctuary was announced yesterday by the Ford Foundation.

The Foundation stipulated that the funds are not to be used for direct relief–food or shelter–but should be spent “without discrimination” on programs to integrate the refugees in communities where they now live,” as well as provide new resettlement opportunities abroad.”

The grant will be administered by Dr. J. van Heuven Goedhart, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, who will ask voluntary or private refugee agencies to carry out the programs. “It would be unrealistic to hope that a grant of $2,900,000 would make it possible to liquidate the refugee problems entirely.” Dr. van Heuven Goedhart said in a statement issued from his office in Geneva, Switzerland. “It is hoped that governments and private voluntary agencies everywhere will be stimulated to comparable actions by this new and direct approach.”

Voluntary agencies “which have long experience of co-operation with international bodies working for refugees and have a deep knowledge of the basic problems of refugees in Europe” will be closely associated with the High Commissioner in making plans, and “will be entrusted with the responsibility of carrying out the programs,” Dr. van Heuven Goedhart said. “Our plans will be concerned with social assimilation, training of youth, cultural activities and resettlement of refugees.”

Trygve Lie, U.N. Secretary-General, expressed “warmest appreciation” of the Foundation’s “far-sighted generosity.” The grant gives “real encouragement to the refugees themselves as well as to all those who are trying to find solutions to their problems,” he said.