A special bureau to process applications for indemnification by certain persons who were victims of nazism during World War II has been established by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, it was announced officially here today.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Felix Schnyder, has appointed a Swiss citizen, Ernest Schlatter, to head the new indemnification section, and the latter will assume his office at the end of this week.
Mr. Schlatter will administer a special fund of 45,000,000 deutschemarks (about $11,000,000) “to provide assistance to national persecutees, other than those who already have a claim under the German Indemnification Law,” Mr. Schnyder’s announcement stated.
“In order to qualify for payments,” said the High Commissioner, “a person must have been a refugee on October 1, 1953, regardless of his present residence, even if, in the meantime, he has lost refugee status by returning to his home country or by acquiring a new nationality. Surviving dependents of persons who have died as a result of (Nazi) persecution may also qualify under certain conditions.”
Applications for in demnification under this program must be filed at the office of the High Commissioner in Geneva not later than December 31, 1961. So far, Mr. Schnyder said, about 1,100 applications have been filed, primarily from persons of Russian, Polish or Ukrainian origin.
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