IOM TO ASSIST THE RETURN OF 30,000 PEOPLE IN CROATIA

( Editorial: --> 1749 ) GENEVA, Feb 13 (Hina) - The task of the International Organisation for Migrations' mission in Croatia is to ensure the return and accommodation of at least 30,000 displaced persons and refugees over the next two years, an IOM report issued in Geneva said Friday. The return is part of a programme on the return of displaced persons financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development. The report recalls that the IOM mission has also assisted those refugees and displaced persons from Croatia who wanted to permanently move to third countries. According to available data, during January the IOM has mediated in the emigration of 604 persons to the United States, 104 to Canada, 17 to Australia, and several persons to Norway, Ireland and Sweden. (hina) ha jn 131726 MET feb 98