PAKISTAN FORMALLY REQUESTS INTERNATIONAL RELIEF
U.N. New York, May 28 (Rtr)PAKISTAN has redested as least 250,000 tons of food grains, coastal ships and vehicles through U.N. agencies to help East Pakistan, the U.N. revealed Wednesday.
The requests for humanitarian aid were detailed in a letter to Secretary-General U Thant four days ago from the Pakistani ambassdor, Agha Shahi, but a U.N. spokesman said at the time that Shahi had asked that the letter not be published.
… The letter, released the U.N. Wednesday, said Pakistan would be grateful to receive at least 250,000 tons of food grains on a grace basis from the UN Word Food Programme (WFP), and 100,000 tons of edible oil.
‘Early shipment of these quantities would greatly help to allevate the pressing needs of the populaton of East Pakistan,’ the letter said.
Shahi’s letter said that as rebuilding of road and railway bridges in East Pakistan was likely to take some time, food supplies would have to be distributed principally by water.
Pakistan would greatly appreciate any help UNICEF (the U.N. Children’s Fund) and any others U.N. agencies could give in the renting or acquisition of 15 coastal craft of 1,000 tons and 15 more of 500 tons.
The supply of about 500 land vehicles- particularly trucks would also be very helpful.
The letter recalled that Pakistan President Yahya Khan had advised U. Thant that international aid would be administered by Pakistan’s own relief agencies’However,my government will be prepared to associate UNICEF and WFP personnel in the planning and organisation of the task on relief, the letter said.
U.S. Relife
In Washington, the U.S. is ready to provide coastal vessels, food and other supplies as part of an international relief effort for East Pakistan, the State Department announced Wednesday night.
It said in a statement that it welcomed the Pakistan Government’s formal request for international relief made in a letter to the United Nations Wednesday.
The State Department added that the United States had for several weeks been planning a relief programme in anticipation of Pakistan’s acceptance of international aid for the eastern region.
The State Department earlier had publicly indicated disagreement with the Pakistan Government over the question of relief, which Pakistan had last month rejected as being unnecessary at that time.
U.S. officials said they were satisfied that Pakistan would use the aid for humanitarian purposes. The aid is to be distributed by the Pakistan Governments in conjunction with U.N. officials, the State Department said.
Australian Aid
Australia will provide half million dollars (233,000 sterling) of aid to help East Pakistan refugees in India, Prime Minister William McMahon said Wednesday, according to Canberra Reuter correspondent.
McMahon told a press conference that 200,000 dollars (93,000 sterling) would be provided immediately.
This would consist of 50,000 dollars (23,000 sterling) in cash and the dispatch by air to the official Indian Government Relient Agency in Calcutta of vaccines, medicines and materials to provide shelter, he said.
Reference : The New Nation, 25.05.1971