International task force to deal with refugees wanted
Dr. Stan Mooneyham, president of the World Vision International, called for an international task force to deal with the “mounting problem of refugees from Bangladesh coming into India.” report agencies.
With the number of refugees “from East Pakistan expected to double to some five million from its present official figure of 2,647,507 and about 50,000 refugees a day continue to pour into India, “nothing less than an international task force committed to save human lives can prevent tens of thousands from dying from disease and starvation,” Dr. Mooneyham said.
The 45 year old leader whose organization has launched relief programmes in South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos said : “I have seen nothing that compares in size and scope with the problem of refugees from Bangladesh.”
Dr. Mooneyham also said that he was “highly pleased” at the response by the Indian Government and that he had sent a telegram to Mrs. Gandhi expressing commendation that “despite India’s own needs, you are generously sharing what you have with those who have nothing.”
Meanwhile, the Australian Government has decided to give 500,000 Australian dollars (Rs. 42 lakhs) to India for the relief of East Bengal refugees, according to the Australian Deputy High Commission in Calcutta.
Three West German humanitarian organizations have so far collected contributions worth Rs. 11.5 lakhs for relief to the Bangladesh refugees in India, a German Embassy Press release says.
Emergency food supplies worth two million dollars (Rs. 1.5 crores) were authorized for India on Friday by Mr. A. H. Boerma, Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
This was in response to the appeal of Secretary General, U Thant, and the Indian Government for assistance in coping with the influx of refugees from Bangladesh into India.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 28.05.1971