Evacuee problem handled admirably: Yugoslav envoy
NEW DELHI, JUNE 20. – The Yugoslav Ambassador to India, Dr. Slavko Komar, today expressed admiration for the Government of India’s expedition’s measures to relieve the suffering of the displaced persons from Bangladesh.
Talking to newsmen on his return here after visiting refugee camps in West Bengal the Ambassador said that for the speedy relief operations undertaken by the Government of India and other Indian organizations half the number of the displaced persons would have perished, reports UNI.
He wondered how it was possible to have taken care of such an unprecedented exodus in such a short time. Most of the refugees were now safe though they were placed in a difficult situation, he added.
Dr. Komar said that during his visit to the camps he had asked some of the refugees why they had to leave their homes. They told him that several thousand people were killed around them and therefore they were forced to flee for their lives.
He said while a majority of the refugees came without any of their belongings the most distressing sight was the sufferings of women, children and the aged.
According to him some of the priority items were provision of roofed shelter for the refugees, food for babies and medical supplies.
The Ambassador said besides providing aid his Government had reiterated many times that political conditions should be created in Bangladesh for the refugees to go back.
He added that in addition to joining the world community in giving aid to the refugees his Government was supporting humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross in his country to launch a nation-wide drive to secure as much relief as possible for the unfortunate victims.
Dr. Komar said it was a great experience for him to study the situation first hand. He would report to his Government on his visit to the camps.
Meanwhile, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has had fresh talks with President Yahya Khan on the return of East Bengal refugees from India during a flying visit to Islamabad, adds Reuter.
The Prince, who flew in yesterday on his third visit in two weeks, told reporters that he hoped there would be some solution to the refugee problem.
Prince Sadruddin said he discussed the “return and rehabilitation of displaced persons” with the President and Pakistani officials, but declined to disclose the outcome of the talks.
He later left for Karachi on his way back to Geneva, where the High Commissioner’s office is based.
A visiting three-member British Parliamentary delegation returned to Islamabad from Bangladesh last night and had another meeting with Pakistani President Yahya Khan.
Before meeting the President, the delegation members – Mrs. Jill Knight and Mr. James Kilfeder (Conservative) and Mr. James Tinn (Labour Opposition) met the permanent head of the Foreign Ministry, Sultan Mohammad Khan.
It is understood the delegation discussed Pakistani’s aid requirements for the rehabilitation of evacuees who are now returning to Bangladesh.
A dispatch from Rome says: Pope Paul VI received Jesuit father Pierre Fallon at the Vatican City yesterday, reportedly with a letter from the Archbishop of Calcutta on the situation of the refugees from Bangladesh.
A British daily, The observer, has criticized the United Nations for not intervening in the Bangladesh affairs.
In its editorial today, the paper asked, “Why doesn’t the United Nations intervene in East Bengal to stop the mass killing, restore order, let the refugees return home and carry out a massive relief programme?”
“It has long been clear that the United Nations could and should be enabled to maintain a crucial agency for dealing with disasters like earthquakes, floods or famines. But it is quite another matter to devise a means of preventing wars, whether civil or international or even of preventing persecution or massacres. Intervention for these purposes whether in Biafra yesterday or in Pakistan today, or in West Asia, East or Southern and Central Africa tomorrow, means being able and ready to use major force.”
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 21.06.1971