$1 m US grant to Pindi for cyclone relief
WASHINGTON, JUNE 11- The USA yesterday signed an agreement providing one million dollar (£120,000) to Pakistan to charter foreign ships to carry relief supplies within Bangladesh the State Department announced yesterday, says Reuter.
The department spokesman Mr. Charles Bray, said the grant would be used immediately to charter six to eight boats with crew for a period up to four months.
The announcement said that the boats would deliver grains and other relief supplies to the clone- struck areas.
Asked why the USA was providing the boast now, nearly six months after the cyclone.
Mr. Bray said that there had been distribution problems, one of which involved the lack of adequate water transport. Mr. Bray also disclosed that Pakistan had asked the USA and other Governments for reconstruction and rehabilitation aid for Bangladesh and that the request was being considered.
He said the agreement to charter boats with US funds contained assurances that they would be used for relief purposes only.
The USA made representations to Pakistan last week over a published photograph showing Government troops engaged in the fighting in Bangladesh using a small boat apparently identical to 50 small motorized craft provided by the USA for cyclone relief operations.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 12.6.71