Belgian envoy visits evacuees camps
By Our Airport Correspondent, Mr. C. Kerremans, Belgian Ambassador in India compared the exodus of refugees from Bangladesh with that of the evacuation of his countrymen in 1940 when his country was overthrown by the Germans.
Mr. Kerramans told newsmen at Dum Dum Airport on Sunday that the only difference between the two was that “in our case it was a total war.”
The Ambassador said that after his visit to some of the evacuee camps he was convinced that what he heard in Delhi from his friends was not at all exaggerated. He did not know what would be the historical facts behind the exodus but was sure there were some tragic reasons which compelled the people to flee from their own country.
He told a questionnaire that he had no suggestion as to how to relieve the pressure on India as a result of the presence of evacuees, the majority of whom are Hindus.
The international bodies, the Ambassador said, besides giving aid to India should also find ways and means by which these unfortunate people could go back to their homes.
The second consignment of East German Government relief materials, which included tents, tarpaulin, blankets, arrived by a chartered plane. Other relief materials included four ambulances, medicines and barley food.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 21.06.1971