Sources: Japan eyeing new refugee program

TOKYO, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- A third-country refugee resettlement program may soon go into effect in Japan, making Japan the first country in Asia to have such a program, sources say.

The unidentified government sources said under the proposed program, individuals fleeing their native lands would be accepted as refugees in Japan up to an annual total of 100, the Kyodo news agency said Friday.

The resettlement program was used in 14 countries in 2007 to help those attempting to escape a crisis in their homelands. Those countries allowed 75,000 refugees to enjoy safe haven.

The United States led all countries, accepting 48,000 of those refugees in 2007, while Canada welcomed 11,000.

Unofficial studies of the program began in Japan late last year at the request of 11 Japanese ministers and the final details were to be determined before the program is officially introduced, the sources told the news agency.