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S-0900-0008-08-00001
Expanded Number S-0900-0008-08-00001
Title items-in-lndia/Pakistan/Bangladesh - Bangladesh - documents press releases
Date Created 25/02/1974
Record Type Archival Item
Container s-0900-0008: India/Pakistan/Bangladesh 1971-1977
Print Name of Person Submit Image Signature of Person Submit UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations., N.Y. (3TOR USE OF INFOFiMATION MEDIA — NOT. AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Eolease SG/SM/1962 £5 February 197*1
STATEMENT BY SSCSETASY-GEKGPAL OK RECOGHIi^ON QJ BANGLADESH BY PAKISTAN
Following is the text of a statement issued on Saturday, 23 February, by Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim:
I welcome most warmly this very important development. The establishment of normal and friendly relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan is an important contribution to peace and co-operation in the subcontinent. It will, I hope, lay the foundation for a constructive co-operation on the many common problems which face the two countries. The United Nations, and I, as Secretary-General, have been much concerned in recent years with the problems of the subcontinent. The present "development is, therefore, especially good news.
* AV AV AV UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/1TT6 7 December 1973
SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF UNITED NATIONS SALVAGE OPERATION OF PORT OF CHALNA. BANGLADESH
Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim today announced the completion of the second and last phase of the United Nations salvage and clearance operations of Chalna, the second largest port of Bangladesh.
The Government of Bangladesh submitted a formal request to the United Nations on 8 September 1972 for the clearance of -the approach channel and Port of Chalna. Its reopening was essential to ensure the smooth flow of foodgrains into the country and the exports of' tea and jute to the international market. ' • .
On \9 September 1972, the United Nations invited some of - .. maritime salvage firms of the world to bid on a contract for tl-.:s work. Twenty- two firms in 15 countries vere solicited. Responses were obtained from six firms .
An $8 million contract was awarded to a consortium of international salvage firms headed by Smit Tak International Salvage Co. Ltd., of Rotterdam, Holland, and including the Fukada Salvage Company of Japan and Ulrich Harms Gmbh and Co. of the Federal Republic of Germany.
The advance parties of engineers from the consortium arrived in Bangladesh on 26 October 1972 and prepared surveys together with a plan of operation for the demolition or salvage of the various sunken vessels obstructing the approach channel and the Port of Chalna itself.
The operation was fully mobilized by the beginning of November 1972, and proceeded precisely according to plan. One of the wrecks was refloated. Because of : silting, the remaining five vessels had to be broken up under water and lifted section by section. Working in almost total darkness in the swift-flowing, muddy Pussur River, divers placed small explosive charges on the sunken wrecks to sever them into pieces which were afterwards lifted and landed in a scrap area ashore. One diver '.from Yugoslavia lost his lifes in this dangerous work.
(more) UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of public Information United Nations, N*Y« (FOE USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA. — HOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/SM/1878 30 August 1975
TEXT OF STATEMENT BY SECRETARY-GENERAL ON AGREEMENT SIGNED IN NEW DELHI
Following is the text of a statement made by Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim on the agreement signed in iTev Delhi regarding, the subcontinent:
"I warmly welcome the agreement which has been signed in Delhi, These problems have been of great concern to the United Nations during the past years and have been discussed in detail during my trip to the sub-continent early this year. I have then, and on many other occasions, expressed the thought that the mainly humanitarian consequences of the recent events should be tackled first. I hope that this very welcome development will lead to further steps in settling ponding problems in the subcontinent*"
*** * UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMTION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release REF/638 IHA/191 29 August 1973
UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIOHEH FOR REFUGEES RESUMES REPATRIATION OF REFUGEES IN SUB-CONTINENT
(The following is reproduced as received from the UHHCR, Geneva.)
The office of the United Nations Eigh Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has resumed its repatriation operation ia the sub-continent. Special flights have been arranged to repatriate Bengalis from Pakistan and stranded Pakistanis from Nepal to their'respective homelands, at the request of the Governments concerned. A UWHCR charter plane began operations on 28 August on a triangular route — Karachi-Dacea-Kathmandu-Karachi. This airlift covers a total of 10,000 persons. A total of 5,000 Bengalis are being moved from Pakistan to Bangladesh, and 5,000 Pakistanis are being flown from Nepal to Pakistan. The airlift was preceded by three simile r operations, two from Nepal to Pakistan, involving some 1,800 persons, and the third from Pakistan to Bangladesh involving U50 persons. Meanwhile, the first few hundred persons have been moved on the new triangular route. It will be recalled that the United Nations Secretary-General was approached by the Governments of Bangladesh and Pakistan with a request for assistance for the repatriation. The Secretary-General designated the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadruddin Aga Khan, to be the executing agent for this operation. As the Secretary-General had indicated earlier, it was hoped that these limited transfers would pave the way for further movements. The operation is being carried out in close co-operation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)3 which is providing invaluable assistance particularly as regards the identification of persons who are to be repatriated.
* •::•*•::• a UNITED RATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — EOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/C/328 IHA/187 8 August 1973
OMAN 3X3NKTE5_fe.?_OpQ. FOR ASSISTANCE TO DISPLACED. PEOPLE IN BORDER AREAS OF PAKISTAN
Following is the 'text of a letter dated 27 July to Secretary-General Kurt ¥aldheim from Faisal Al-Said, Permanent Representative of Oman to the United Nations, regarding assistance to displaced people in the "border areas of Pakistan:
I wish to refer to Your Excellency's letter of April 19, 1973 number S0560, drawing the attention of my Government to the plight of 1,2 million displaced people in the border areas of Pakistan and expressing the hope that Governments would find it possible to assist in the' United Nations noble programmes for rehabilitating and resettling said people. Upon instructions from my Government, I now have the pleasure to inform Your Excellency that in response to your Excellency's appeal my Government has decided to make a token contribution of US $1,000 towards meeting the costs of these noble and critical programmes. I avail myself of this opcrtunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration.
_y_ y -V. 7f KTf UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N..Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA -- NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Note No. 3819 25 July 1973
NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS
A photo exhibit on the United Nations relief operation in Bangladesh will be opened at 3 p.m. on Thursday, 2.6 July, in the public lobby of the General Assembly building at Headquarters. The exhibit will be opened on behalf of Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim by Sir Robert Jackson, Under- Secretary-General who is in over-all charge of the operation. The relief operation in Bangladesh is the largest humanitarian undertaking ever carried out by the United Nations. Aid began shortly after political strife ended in December 1971* and it is still continuing today. In addition to food and shelter, the assistance programmes have provided medicines, vehicles and expert technical personnel. The conflict in Bangladesh — a territory of 55,000. square miles and 75 million people -- caused widespread damage to bridges, rail and road links, and ferry service within the country, as well as massive displacements of population. The two main ports of Chittagong and Chalna were closed because of sunken vessels. In June 1971, the United Nations Relief Operation in Dacca (UNROD) was established to help in planning, organizing and conducting humanitarian relief activities, and to enable the Secretary-General to be in a position to assure the international community that all relief supplies would reach their destinationc On 1 April 1973, UNROD was succeeded by the United Nations Special Relief Office in Bangladesh (UNROB). Bangladesh submitted a formal request to the United Nations on 8 September 1972, to clear the approach channel and port of Chalna. On 2k October 1972, as depicted in one of the photos, a contract was signed at United Nations Headquaraters between Bangladesh and an international consortium comprised of salvage firms from the Netherlands, Japan, the Federal Republic of Germany and Singapore. The salvage task was completed on 9 May 1973? a few weeks ahead cf schedule, at a cost saving of several hundred thousand dollars. Chalna is now operating at above its pre-war capacity.
(more) UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations,.N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release ICJ/333 19 July 1973
- WORLD COURT REACHES DECISION RELATING TO ITS JURISDICTION IN CASE CONCERNING PAKISTANI PRISONERS OF WAR
Following is the text of a press communique issued on 16 July "by the Registry of the International Court of Justice, The Hague:'
By an order dated 13 July 1973 the Court by 8 votes to U, has decided that the -written proceedings in the case concerning the Trial of Pakistani Prisoners of ¥ar (Pakistan versus India) shall first be addressed to the question of its Jurisdiction to entertain the dispute, and has fixed 1 October 1973 as the time-limit for the filing of a Memorial by the Government of Pakistan and 15 December 1973 as that for the filing of a Counter-Memorial by the Government of India. The subsequent procedure has been reserved for further decision. In making this order the Court was composed as follows: President Lachs; Judges Forster, Gros, Bengzon, Petren, Onyeama, Ignacio-Pinto, Morozov, Jimenez de Arechaga, Sir Humphrey Waldock, Nagendra Singh and Ruda.
Judge Nagendra Singh appended a separate opinion to the Order, and Judge Petren a dissenting opinion. It will be recalled that on 11 May 1973 Pakistan filed an Application instituting proceedings against India, and a request for the indication of interim measures of protection, relating to a dispute concerning accusations of genocide made against 195 Pakistani prisoners of war and civilian internees detained in India.
By letters from the Ambassador of India at The Hague, dated 23 and 28 May and k June 1973 the Government of India refused to consent to the jurisdiction of the Court and gave its reasons. On k, 5 and 26 June 1973 the Court held public hearings on the request for interim measures, at which the representatives of the Government of Pakistan were present and submitted observations. The Government of Pakistan had chosen as judge ad hoc Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan, who sat in the proceedings until 2 July 1973.
(more) UNITED NATIONS Free3 Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/C/326 IHA/186 16 July 1973
SWEDEN ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO BANGLADESH RELIEF OPERATION
Following is the text of a not 3 to t^.3 Secretary-General dated 25 June from the Acting Pe;.jianent Representative of Sweden, Kaj Sundberg, concerning a contribution to Unit',1 Nations Relic.!1 efforts in Bangladesh:
The Acting Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations presents his compliments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and, with reference to tse appeals for further contributions to the United Nations Relief Operation in Bangladesh (UNR03), has the honour to announce an additional Swedish contribution in the amount of 500,000 Swedish Kroner* to be used for the lightering operations undertaken by UNROB.
* **# *
* Approximately $115,000. UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release REF/686 13 Jv-ly 1973
UNHCR ANNOUNCES TRANSFER OF BENGALIS FROM PAKISTAN TO BANC-LADF.SH
(The following is reproduced as received from UNHCR, Geneva.)
The United Kationc High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadruddin Aga Khan, announced today the Koveutent of 452 Bengalis from Pakistan to Bangladesh. The Bengalis vere flown, from Karachi to Dacca on four flights chartered by the High Commissioner on 11, 12 and 13 July* The last plane landed at 1420 hours, Dacca time, "bringing in 84 people.
In pursuance of his efforts to alleviate the humanitarian problems resulting from the conflict in the subcontinent in 1971, United Nations Secretary-General Kurt "Waldheiia has designated High Commissioner Sadruddin Aga Khan to be Executing Agent for an operation to be undertaken b^ „ he United Nations involving the repatriation of a limited number of Bengalis and Kistanis to their respective homelands.
It is hoped that this transfer — vhich was carried out in close co-operation with the International Committee of the Red Cross — will pave the way for further movements.
# *** * UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — HOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release IB/3132 3 July 1973
/ IDA APPROVES $4 MILLION CREDIT TO BANGLADESH FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
(The following is reproduced as received from the IDA, Washington, D.C.)
The International Development Association (IDA), an affiliate of the World Bank, is providing $4 million to help Bangladesh in carrying out high- priority studies and other projects of technical assistance designed to assist the country in the planning and implementation of its programmes of economic development and rehabilitation. An important use of the credit funds will be for feasibility studies and other investigations required for preparing projects for financing by the Bank Group or by other sources of assistance, with emphasis on projects in the fields of agriculture and water resources development. In addition, the proceeds of the credit will be available for strengthening of institutions responsible for project planning and implementation, through the provision of management assistance or staff training, and for more general studies which may be required prior to the preparation of specific projects. Bangladesh's difficult development problems, aggravated by the events of the last two years, require high levels of technical assistance. A major portion of the technical assistance needs is expected to be1 met by the United Nations Development Programme' (UNDP) and bilateral agencies. The Bank Group is likely to provide some of the funds by adding technical assistance components to various credits for regular projects. But this procedure will not provide technical assistance funds as quickly or for such a broad range of activities as is necessary. The IDA credit of $4 million will help to finance this type of high-priority technical assistance activities. The IDA credit to the Government of Bangladesh is for a term of 50 years, including a 10-year grace period. It is interest free, except for a service charge of 3/k of 1 per cent to cover IDA^ administrative expenses.
# ### * UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OP INFORMATION MEDIA. — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release IB/3130 3 July 1973
BANGLADESH RECEIVES $7,5 MILLION IDA CREDIT TO SET UP SEEDS INDUSTRY
(The following is reproduced as received from the IDA, ¥ashington, ,D;C0)
A credit of $7.5 million from the International Development Association (IDA), an affiliate of the World Bank, will assist Bangladesh in establishing a modern seeds industry, initially capable of producing about 12,000 tons of high-yielding rice and wheat seeds a year. The project is an important part of Bangladesh's efforts to increase agricultural production through the adoption of new agricultural technology and inputs. The project, when completed in 1978, will help B • '.ladesh to increase its production of wheat and rice by 400,000 tons a j >- resulting in an annual foreign exchange savings of about $25 million. Agriculture is Bangladesh's most important economic sector, producing more than 55 per 'cent of the nation's gross domestic product and 80 per cent of the employment. Rice cultivation provides about 35 per cent of the country's foodgrain requirements. Wheat, acreage, still very small, has been growing rapidly and wheat is likely to become a more significant part of foodgrain supply. Although the land is fertile and the farmers industrious, an excessively high, population density combined with traditional farming techniques result in food shortages and the necessity of using scarce foreign exchange resources to import foodgrains. The Government of Bangladesh is evolving a development strategy which concentrates on increasing foodgrain production through the accelerated spread of new high-yielding seeds, increased application of agricultural inputs, particularly chemical fertilizers, and expansion of irrigation primarily through tubewells and low-lift pumps. The project being assisted by IDA includes the development of 17 farms of the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation for the production of foundation and certified seeds; organization of a contract seed grower scheme covering about 5,000 acres in five areas; construction of six seed processing plants; provision of seed storage and marketing services; institution of a seed quality control service; further development of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute; and provision of training programmes and technical assistance.
(more) UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release IB/3129 ' 3 July 1973
IDA APPROVES $l8 MILLION CREDIT TO PAKISTAN FOR PORT DEVELOPMENT
(The following is reproduced as received from the IDA, Washington, D.C.)
The third World Bank Group lending operation for the expansion and improvement of the port of Karachi has been approved with a $18 million Interna- tional Development Association (IDA) credit.
The project will cost approximately $3^.2 million and is designed to alleviate delays caused by the shortage of berths, thereby avoiding rapidly rising costs of congestion which could be detrimental to Pakistan's foreign trade. It includes reconstruction of lighterage berths to provide four deepwater cargo berths and two transit sheds; purchase of cargo handling equipment; remodelling of a railway marshalling yard and storage area; and replacement of a road bridge -- over 100 years old and in dangerous condition -- which provides access to the east side of the port.
It also includes consultants' services for supervision of construction of berths and the bridge, and for detailed /engineering for a new oil terminal and six additional dry cargo berths. Technical assistance will be provided for dredging operations, implementation of a new accounting system, and improvement of co-ordination between the port and railway operations in the Karachi area.
Karachi is the gateway for Pakistan's imports and exports and also handles some of Afghanistan's foreign trade. Traffic has been rising steadily and last year port congestion resulted in a loss of about 2,600 ship-days, valued at $5*2 million. Additional berths provided under a previous World Bank- assisted project will alleviate the congestion. But without the new project being assisted by IDA, congestion would again increase due to traffic growth and approach present levels in five years. The IDA credit brings total Bank Group commitments for the port of Karachi to $1*9.8 million. Two of the operations were World Bank loans and one was a $1 million IDA credit for engineering studies -- most of which is being refinanced under the current credit. The credit is being made to Pakistan and most of the proceeds will be relent to the Trustees of the Port of Karachi, the organization that operates the port. The Government will use the remaining $250,000 of the credit for the project's railway operations component. The credit is for 50 years, including a 10-year grace period, and is interest free except for a 3A °f 1 per cent service charge to meet IDA's administrative expenses. UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — HOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release IB/3128 3 July 1973
IDA APPROVES $25 MILLION CREDIT TO BANGLADESH FOR HIGHWAYS
• (The following is reproduced as received from the International Development Association, Washington, D.C.)
The International Development Association (IDA), of the World Bank Group, has approved a $25 million credit for a $1*0.1* million highways project in Bangladesh* The credit replaces an earlier credit of $22.5 million to Pakistan for a similar project. The project has been partially completed and $3.6 million of the credit will be used to repay amounts disbursed under th*. ,. ^rlier credit. The new project is a modified version of the original and inclu- s completion of construction of a bridge over the Sitalakhya River about five miles east of Dacca on the road to Chittagong, completion of construction of 20 miles of that road south-east of Feni, and improvements to the damaged Surma River bridge in Sylhet in the Northeast. In addition, the project will assist the Bangladesh Roads and Highways Directorate through the construction of a headquarters building to replace scattered and unsuitable facilities; provision of space and tools for improving equipment maintenance; a feasibility study of a second bridge over the Surma River and prefeasibility studies of other high-priority river crossings; consulting services on ferry operations; equipment to improve ferry crossings on the Dacca-Chittagong road; and technical assistance and training. The Sitalakhya bridge will replace a ferry crossing and reduce transit time and avoid higher cost ferry services needed to handle growing traffic volume. The Feni highway section will shorten the road by about seven miles. The Surma River bridge repairs will eliminate long delays in crossing the narrow span and remove the safety hazard of mixed pedestrian an<5[ motor traffic. The IDA credit is for 50 years, including a 10-year grace period, and is interest free except for a 3/^ of 1 per cent service charge to cover IDAfs administrative expenses. UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Ir^formation United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AH OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release IB/5092 13 June 1973
IDA APPROVES $21 MILLION CREDIT FOR EDUCATION IN BANGLADESH
(The following is reproduced as received from the International Development Association, Washington, D.C. )
Bangladesh's efforts to increase the supply of trained manpower necessary for the development of the country's agriculture and industry will be assisted by a credit of $21 million from the International Development Association (IDA), an affiliate of the World Bank.- The credit replaces two previous credits to Pakistan for the same project and $7-7 million of the new credit will be used to repay amounts disbursed under the previous credits. The IDA credit will help to finance an education project comprising the construction and provision of furniture and equipment for the expansion of Bangladesh's only Agricultural University at Mymensingh and for 13 technical institutes located in important towns. The project also includes overseas fellowships for teaching staff of the Agricultural University and equipment and technical assistance to upgrade the Technical Teacher Training College in Dacca, the nation1 s capital. Training large numbers of technicians, both for agriculture and industry, is a matter of great importance for the development of Bangladesh. The agricultural sector which provides livelihood to over 80 per cent of the population requires an increasing number of properly trained agricultural specialists to serve as extension workers, researchers, farm managers and irrigation engineers. In addition, given the strong population pressure -- Bangladesh,' s population of 75 million is growing at an annual rate of 3 per cent — new jobs will have to be provided by other sectors, in order to absorb the rural labor supply. Increased output from technical training / institutes will assist the progress of the industrial sector. The project is scheduled for completion in 1978 at a total estimated cost of $36.^ million. The IDA credit to the Government of Bangladesh is for a term of 50 years including 10 years of grace. It will be interest free, but will carry a service charge of 3A of 1 per cent per annum to cover IDA'S administrative costs.
.y. V V y .V. ™ A A A f? UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release ICJ/325 8 June 1973
WORLD COURT HEARS PRESENTATION BY PAKISTAN IN CASE CONCERNING PAKISTANI PRISONERS OF WAR
The following information was communicated to the Press on 5 June by the Registry of the International Court of Justice:
At the public hearings held by the Court on ^ and 5 June 1973, J.G. Kharas, Ambassador of Pakistan to the Netherlands, Agent, and Yahya Bakhtiar, Attorney-General of Pakistan, Chief Counsel, presented the observations of the Government of Pakistan on that Government's request for the indication of interim measures of protection in the case concerning Trial of Pakistani Prisoners of ¥ar (Pakistan v_. India). The Government of Pakistan was also represented by S.T. Joshua, Secretary of Embassy, and Zahid Said, Deputy Legal Adviser, K 'stry of Foreign Affairs, as Deputy Agent and Counsel respectively. The Government of India was not represented.
s At the beginning of the hearing of k June, Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan, who had been chosen by the Government of Pakistan to sit as judge ad_ hoc in the case in accordance with Article 31 of the Statute of the Court, made the solemn declaration provided for in Article 20 of the Statute. The hearings of k and 5 June will be followed by a further public hearing, the date of which will be announced in due course.
T/i W'X" T/f UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA -- WOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release ICEP/ll8o H/2288 30 May 1973
UHICEF AND WHO SIGN AGREEMENTS FOR $16.7 MILLION WATEK SUPPL1' PRQOFiAMMB IN BANGLADESH
(The following is reproduced as received'from UNICEF, New York.)
Formal agreements for the largest rural water supply project in South-East Asia— the $16.7 million programme in Bangladesh assisted by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) — were signed in Dacca today. Faizuddin Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, Local Government and Co-operatives of Bangladesh, signed the agreements -- called Plans of Operation -- with representatives of UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). Under this water supply project, 160,000 shallow tubewells will be sunk or rehabilitated. Eventually, the programme will provide clean drinking water for. half the rural population of Bangladesh. Fifty per cent of Bangladesh's notified diseases result from impure water and more than half their victims are children. The UNICEF representative at the signing, Victor Beerman, said that this water supply project had aroused more interest than any other among the donor countries and national and voluntary agencies whose contributions formed a large part of the $10.5 million UNICEF contribution. Contributions specifically earmarked for water supply in Bangladesh have come from Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, Norway, Sweden and the United States, as well as from private groups in Belgium, Federal Republic of Germany, the United Kingdom, Finland and Australia.
# -JBHf * UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of public Information United Nations, H.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFicIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/1772 16 May 1973
SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF UNITED NATIONS CLEARANCE OPERATION OF FORT CHALNA, BANGLADESH'S SECOND LARGEST PORT
Port Now Operating Above Its Pre-War Capacity
Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim today announced the completion of the $8 million port clearance operation carried out by the United Nations at Chalna, Bangladesh. The operation was completed on 9 May, a week ahead of schedule and at rubstantially below the estimated cost. With its completion, the port of Chalna, Bangladesh's second largest port and the main outlet for the country's exports, is now operating ^at above its pre-war capacity. • The operation was the largest of its kind since the Sues Canal clearance in 1957 carried out by the United Nations. Planniag • >gan in . October 1972 when the Government of Bangladesh requested Unite. — ^t assistance in removing the sunken vessels which had obstructed ^ in the port since the end of the war in December 1971. A contract calling for the removal of six major wrecks by mid-May 1973 was let to an inter- national consortium of salvage firms which mobilized equipment from the Netherlands, Japan, the Federal Republic of Germany and Singapore. The operation was planned and managed by UNROB, the United Nations Relief Operation in Bangladesh. One of the wrecks was refloated. Because of silting the remaining five vessels had to be broken up under water and lifted section by section. Working in almost total obscurity in the swift-flowing, muddy Pussr River, divers placed small explosive charges on the vessels to cut them into pieces that could be lifted and landed in a scrap area ashore. One diver lost his life. To lift the wrecks, two of the world's biggest floating cranes were employed, Taklift One, owned by the Smit-Tak International Salvage Company of Rotterdam, and Nippon-Go, owned by the Fukada Salvage Company of Tokyo. They were assisted by the four hundred ton capacity Magnus Four, owned by Ulrich Harms GMBH of Hamburg.
(more) UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA -- NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release'SG/C/292 IHA/172 5 April 1973
BELGIUM CONTRIBUTES TO RELIEF OPERATIONS IN BANGLADESH
Following is the text of a letter dated 22 March to the. Secretary-General from the Permanent Mission of Belgium to the United Nations concerning contributions to the United Nations Relief Operations in Bangladesh (UNROB):
Original in French
La Mission permanente de la Belgique aupres des Nations Unies prSsente ses compliments au Secretaire General de I1Organisation des Nations Unies et a 1'honneur de 1'informer que par une decision approuv£e en conseil des Ministres le l6 mars 1973> lg Gouvernement beige a pris une nouvelle disposition concernant 1'assistance aux victimes des 6v§nements survenus au Bangladesh. Cette disposition consiste dans le financement a concurrence maximum de 3 millions de francs beiges d'un lot de pieces de rechange et d'equipement pour 1'aeroport de Dacca. Les pieces sont fabriquees par une entreprise beige specialised dans ce genre de materiel. La Mission permanente de la Belgique saisit cette occasion pour renouveler au Secretaire general de 1'Organisation des Nations Unies 1'assurance de sa tres haute consideration.
Unofficial Translation in English
The Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations presents his compliments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and has the honour to inform him that the Belgian Government has, through a decision approved by its Council of Ministers on l6 March 1973, adopted a new provision concerning assistance to the victims of the events in Bangladesh. This provision consists in the granting of up to 3 million Belgian francs for the financing of equipment and spare parts for the Dacca Airport. The spare parts are manufactured by a Belgian firm specializing in this kind of equipment. The Permanent Representative of Belgium avails himself of this opportunity to renew to the Secretary-General of the United Nations the assurances of his highest consideration.
* #*•* * UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA. — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release ND/53 k April 1973
BANGLADESH CONTRIBUTES TO SPECIAL FUND FOR NICARAGUA
Following is the text of a letter dated 21 March to the Secretary-General from S.A. Karim, Permanent Observer of Bangladesh to the United Nations, regarding a contribution to the special fund for assistance to Nicaragua:
"I have the honour to refer to your note of 22 January 1975 containing your appeal to the international community for support in helping to meet the needs of the people of Nicaragua following the catastrophic earthquake which struck the city of Managua in December 1972. "Although Bangladesh herself is engaged in a stupendous task of reconstruction after the extensive damages caused to the economy during the war of liberation, my Government has decided to make a token contribution of $10,000 to the United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator's Fv as relief and rehabilitation assistance for the people of Nicaragua. "The Government and people of Bangladesh take this opportunity to express their deepest sympathy and concern for the tragedy which has afflicted the people of Nicaragua,"
•### UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/C/291 GAA733* k April 1973
PAKISTAN TO CONTRIBUTE $3,000 TO UNITED NATIONS TRUST FUND FOR SOUTH AFRICA
Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim has been informed by the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations that the Government of Pakistan has decided to contribute $3jOOO to the United Nations Trust Fund for South Africa, established under General Assembly resolution 205^ B (XX) of 15 December 1965.
jf V . V. « 7V 71 YV
* Press Releases GA/14-331 and GA/^332 dated 28 March and 3 April should have been numbered GA/4731 and GA/^732 respectively. UNITED RATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFOPM.fiION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
* Press Release IB/3022 30 March 1973
IDA GRANTS $23.35 MILLION IN CREDIT FOR..WATER PROJECT IN BANGLADESH
(The following is reproduced as received from, the International Development Association, Washington, D.C.)
. Bangladesh will be able to complete interrupted projects for improving water supply in two principal cities •— Dacca, the capital, and Chittagong, -the main po^'t — and preparing feasibility studies and designs for possible future irrigation and flood control projects, with the help of thres credits totalling $23*35 million from the International Development Association (IDA), an affiliate of the World Bank.
The credits replace three previous credits to Pakistan for the same projects. Of the credits, $11.Ij- million will be used to repay amounts d- .urS'2d under the former credits.
Two IDA credits of $13.2 million and $7.0 million will be devoted to the Dacca and Chittagong water supply projects^ respectively. These projects were initiated in 1963, at which tine only about one-third of the population received any public water services, and the major part of the population had to rely on inadequate and expensive private facilities which constituted a serious problem to public health.
"When completed in 1975 > the Dacca and Chittagong water supply projects will provide continuous on-premise water supply to JO per cent of the popxilation of the two cities. The rest of tne population will be served by street hydrants being installed. The Dacca project included a sewerage element to provide services to about 60 per cent of its estimated population, as compared to 10 per cent-when the project was initiated.
The main components of the $-1-1,6 million Dacca project are construction of k6 tubewells, 170 miles of water distribution pipes, improvements in an existing surface water treatment plant to double its capacity, 20,000 new water connexions and 1;500 street hydrants, construction of a new sewage treatment plant, and 150 miles of sewers. The water supply portion of the project is now abcut 75 Pe^ cent completed and the sewerage portion about ^5 per cent,
(more) U 3T I T E D NATIONS Press Section . ••- •. •• Office of Public Information ' "" , Unit ad Hat ions, IT. Y. (FOR USE OF iKFastfATiosr MEDIA ~ NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD) '
Press Belease IEA/1T1 23 March .1973 . • . •
AUSTRALIA. NEW ZEALAND, tgCmSD STAKES AMD SEC IffiSPOffl) TO APPEAL • BY SECRETAPY-GENSRAX ON FOOD GRAINS FOR BANGLADESH
Recent appeals by Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim for the shipment of food grains to Bangladesh have been answered so far by concrete pledges of assistance from New Zealand, the United States and the European Economic Community (EEC), as well'as by a proird.se from Australia that a firm offer of wheat would be made before June. New Zealand has informed the Secretary-General that it would contribute $.TE 100,000 ($155,062) in cash to the Government of Bangladesh for grain purchases, and that another $3tfZ 50,000 ($67,531) would be made available to the United Nations to help pay for food distribution. The United Etates offer was of $2,500,000 to the Secretary-General for foreign exchange costs related to general relief purposes. The EEC promised 175)000 tons of food grains,- without prejudice to contributions which its individual members might make in, the future. : - United Nations relief efforts in Bangladesh axe the responsibility of the.United Nations Special Relief Office in Bangladesh (UKROB), which recently tock over certain functions of the ssz-iier United Hations Relief .- Operation in Dacca' (UNROD). . ' . ;.. The communications to the Secretary-General conveying these offers are as follows j ' . Letter of 2 March from Permanent Representative of Australia^ Sir Lawrence.R. Mclntyre "The Australian Prime Minister, Mr. E. G. Whitlam, has asked me to acknowledge your telegram of $ifa January, 1975> in which you stressed the urgent requirement for continuation throughout 1975 of assistance in the supply of food, grains to Bangladesh. • . • •• ' "Following consultations with his Cabinet colleagues, the Prime Minister has agreed that Australia should convey a firm offer of wheat to the Bangladesh Government for shipment prior to June 1975- Consultations are currently being conducted on.the proposed food aid transaction and advice on the quantities of wheat involved is expected shortly. Australia.will, of course, be meeting the full freight costs of the shipment. "Australia has also indicated to the Bangladesh Government its intention of providing not less than 5^,000 metric tons of wheat to Bangladesh in the financial year beginning 1st July, 1973-n. (more) ... UNITED IT A T I 0 N B Press Section Office of Public Information . . . United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF ESFCSVAIION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL EECGRr)
' Press Release ICEF/1151* .2 .March 1973
MASSIVE CAMPAIGN BEGINS AGAINS? "BLINDNESS IN
(The following is reproduced as received from UNICEF, New York. )
The first nation-wide campaign against a form of preventable blindness smcng children caused by vitamin A deficiency has begun in Bangladesh. The •affliction took the sight of 150,000 children in Bangladesh last year.
The Bangladesh campaign is distributing high-potency doses of vitamin A to the count ry'-'s 15 million children under six years of age before the monsoons set in at the end of May.
The dosages, contained in pear-shaped capsules no larger than the nail of a little finger and worth about 0.7 cents each, repre ••- nt a six -month supply of the vitamin. The campaign plans to distribute cape „ .-"at six -monthly intervals for the next three years. .
Dr. Wadie Kara el, an international expert who has just returned from helping to implement the campaign in Bangladesh said today he ;felt confident it would mean the end of widespread child blindness there.
Associated with malnutrition and under-nourishrtent among children, this affliction is widespread in the developing world, but is particularly severe in Bangladesh where chronic deprivation was exacerbated by the hostilities of 1971. The campaign began in January and 3 million children are already protected against this form of blindness which results from disintegration of the cornea. Although it can be stopped if caught in the earlier stages, its effects once the cornea has begun to break down axe irreversible.
Although vitamin A deficiency is most devastating to the eyes, it also affects other organs of the body, the skin and gastro-intestinal and respiratory lining and contributes to a retarded physical growth and shortened life-span of children affected by it.
(more) UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release ICEF/1151 12 March 1973
UNICEF ANNOUNCES FURTHER CONTRIBUTIONS TO REHABILITM'ION PROGRAMME OF DISPLACED WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN PAKISTAN
(The following is reproduced as received from UNICEF,'Hew York*)
On 13 March 1973, the Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Henry R. Labouisee, announced further contributions to the UNICEF programme to assist the Government of Pakistan in the rehabilitation of displaced woansn and children in the Punjab and Sind Provinces who have returned to their villages. The contributions came from the Governments of the Netherlands and Switzerland.
The Government of the Netherlands has made a second contribution in the amount of 100,000 florins (equivalent to approximately $3*4-;000) for this purpose, bringing the total sum contributed to over $65,000.
The Government of Switzerland also made its second contribution for this programme — 50,000 Swiss francs (equivalent to approximately $13,625). The total of the Swiss Government contributions is approximately $l|-0,000.
Mr. Labouisse expressed UNICEF's sincere gratitude for these new contribu- tions and expressed the hope that other Governments would follow their example.
# #•*# # UHITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United ITations, II.Y. (FOR USE OF IHBOF^.TION MEDIA -- HOE AN OFFICIAL PSCORD)
Press Release ICSF/1150 2 March 1973
AUSTPALIAN .^BSBrO.->f-F30M:-IlUN05R CAMPAIGN PLATES SJ!.33,921 TO UHICEF 70R WATER PROJECTS IN JflPIA AKTJ BANGLADESH
(Hie folio-wing is reproduced as received from UKICEF.)
Tlie Australian Freedom-from-Hun^er Campaign (AFFHC) has contributed $US '1-33,921 to the United Nations Children's Fund (UKICEF) for rural ware.: supply projects in India and Bangladesh, it was announced at UNICEF headquarters today. ing a ceremony at Canisius College in Sydney, Australia, on ?'".- F^i-ruaryj, a cheque in the amount of ?A 3^1, 600 (equivalent to ^JG 4o3,92l):r vas -oresented by Neil Batt, President of the 'AFFHC, to Frank Bauman, UKICEF s for Australia and Nsw Zealand. s contribution represents AFFHC support from funds raio .d in their lfciii for the following USICEF-assisted projects: -- $A 230,000 ($US 325^825) Bangladesh rural water supply programme in Tangail district. These funds will cover UIflCi'i?*s total undertaking in Tangail of the sinking and resinking of approximately 5*000 shallow tubewells and installation of hand pumps. Each tuv,ewell is designed to provide safe drinking water for a population of about 200; and — yA .Ml, 600 ($US 158,096) India rural water supply programme in the States of Tamil Nadu and Madh.ya Pradesh. This amount represents' the last installment payment of the total AFFSC support of $US 888,000 pledged over a four-year period which has been utilized to purchase some of the drilling rigs needed to drill borewells through the hard rock encountered in the water scarcity areas of these two States, to which the programme is geared. These water supply projects are a vital necessity to provide clean water to rural communities where water is scarce or contaminated. For its continuing strong support, UNICEF has expressed its deep gratitude to the AFF17C, which has contributed over $US 1,700,000 to UNICEF over the last 5 years . UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OP INFORMATION MEDIA -- NOT AN OFFICIAL BECORD)
Press Release FAO/2389 26 February 1973
INDICATIVE PRICES FOR JUTE MAINTAINED
FAQ Group Cites Improved Situation in Bangladesh
(The following is reproduced as received from FAO, Rome.)
Considerable improvement in world jute market conditions since October last is reported by the Intergovernmental Group on Jute, Kenaf and Allied Fibres, a body of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in a review of the 1972/1973 season. The Group, which has just concluded a three-day meeting in Rome, also noted in its final report that "although world import demand for fibre was expected to be slightly less in 1972/1973 than it had been in the previous season due to a continued decrease< in the mill activity of the developed countries, the rate of decline varied from country to country and there were some ground for moderate optimism". However, the Group noted that, in the Federal Republic of Germany in particular and in France, the rapid decline in raw jute imports and in mill activity continued. In France the production of both yarn and woven goods was lower, although this was partly offset by a 20 per cent rise in goods imports; but the long-term situation there was not considered favourable in certain end uses since there had been a large decline in requirements in such end uses as jute bags for sugar, cereal, fertilizer and chemicals. In the •Federal Republic of Germany all the major indicators of jute activity were heavily down, and in North America, too, erosion by synthetics of the market for carpet backing and hessian had sharply accelerated in the most recent period. Estimated export availabilities (905,000 metric tons) in the 1972/1973 season were expected to be more than sufficient to meet world import requirements, Increased production and considerable improvement of the transport problems in Bangladesh -- the main producer — had been among the principal factors which had brought about the improvement in market conditions. The efforts of the Government of Bangladesh had thus succeeded in keeping jute export prices with, n the indicative range recommended by the Group -- L109 sterling plus or minus L6 per long ton F.O.B. Chittagong/Chalna for BWT/BTD grades.
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Press Release IB/29^6 27 November 1972
IDA APPROVES $50 MILLION CREDIT TO BANGLADESH FOR RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME
(The following is reproduced as received from the International Development Association, Washington, D.C.)
The International Development Association (IDA), an affiliate of the World Bank, vill provide a credit of $50 million to Bangladesh to assist the Government's efforts to reconstruct key sectors of the economy following the devastation caused by the cyclone of 1970 and the conflicts of 1971* The funds, which will be used primarily in the agricultural, industrial, transport and telecommunications sectors, will finance imports vitally needed to restore productive capacity and increase levels of output. The economy of Bangladesh is recovering from the setbacks of 1970 and 1971• Although the most pressing short-term relief needs appear to have been met, it will be some time before levels of production and income can be restored to satisfactory levels. An encouraging start has been made; a reconstruction programme has been formulated and work on it begun; and a number of high priority development projects have been resumed. The Government has prepared an annual plan for 1972/73 concentrating on restoring the economy to pre-1970 levels.. Work has begun on the preparation of a medium-term plan, which will tackle broader questions of policy, and contribute to the formulation and selection of new development projects. The IDA credit will complement other bilateral and multilateral assistance and will form part of an international effort to assist Bangladesh in its reconstruction programme. The credit is for a term of 50 years. It is interest- free but will carry a service charge of 3/4 °? 1 per cent to meet IDATs administrative costs. The categories of goods eligible for financing under the credit include fertilizer, irrigation equipment, transportation equipment, telecommunication equipment, industrial raw materials and spare parts, and construction materials. It is expected that the IDA credit will be fully utilized by September 1974. The $50 million reconstruction programme credit is the first entirely new IDA credit to Bangladesh since Bangladesh joined the World Bank and the IDA in August 1972. In addition, IDA and Bangladesh have so far reactivated four projects begun before Bangladesh's independence, with total financing from IDA of about $59 million. UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N. Y.
(FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release FAO/2369 WFP/316 27 October 1972
WFP AGREES IN PRINCIPLE ON FJRTII5R FOOD AID FOR BANGIADESH
(The following is reproduced as received from FAO, Rome.)
Additional food aid to Bangladesh to assist with the post-emergency situation and promote development was agreed In principle today by the governing body of the World Food Programme, currently meeting in Rome.
The WFP is a joint United Nations/Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) undertaking that usually offers aid only to members of one of its component bodies. Bangladesh is not a member of either, but belongs to several United Nations organisations, it is already receiving aid from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and has applied to the FAO for membership. The application will be considered when the FAO Conference convenes in November 1973.
The Executive Director of the WFP, Francisco Aquino, told the 2^-member Inter-Governjiental Committee that the request for food aid was being made because the United Nations Relief Operation in Dacca (UNROD), which has been co-ordinating emergency aid (including some WFP food aid) for Bangladesh, was planned to be phased out at the end of March.
Sir Robert Jackson, Under Secretary-General in over-all charge of UNROD, had had talks with both the FAO and the WFP on the possibility of continuing food aid, Ilr. Aquino said.
Six delegations spoke in support of the request. The Federal Republic of Germany asked that" WFP projects-be "for the advantage of all groups".
ff TV" UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Precs Release FAO/2370 WP/317 27 October 1972
WFP APPROVES $15 MILLION IN,FOOD AID FOR DISPLACED PAKISTANIS
(The following is reproduced as received from FAO, Rome;)
A 2^-nation committee in Rome today authorized $15.2 million in food aid to Pakistan to help resettle 700,000 persons displaced as a result of the Indo conflict last year.
The Intergovernmental Committee of the World Food Programme (WFP) approved a food-for-wcrk project to rehabilitate farm life in areas in the Punjab Province when the people return to their homes.
The returning farmers will receive food rations over a pe jd of eight and one-half months while working to restore land, dwell. " ;$s, roads and irrigation facilities. The ration consists of wheat, caizt, pulses, sugar and vegetable oil. Maize is intended for feeding cattle essential for ploughing and draft work.
The Executive Director of the WPP, Francisco Aquino, expressed his appreciation of the manner in which the Committee had responded to an urgent situation by deciding to waive the normal six-week notice required for considering project requests.
The ¥FP is sponsored jointly by the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It uses food for promoting economic and social development.
« UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release- SG/1770 IHA/150 2k October 1972
SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNOUNCES AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR CLEARANCE ' ' OF SUNKEN VESSELS FROM CHALNA PORT, BANGLADESH
The Secretary-General announced today the award of contract by the United Nations for the clearance of sunken vessels from the approach .channel to Chalna Port, Bangladesh. Having completed one of the most carefully considered contract selection processes ever undertaken by the United Nations and after obtaining the concurrence of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the task of clearing Chalna Port has been awarded to a consortium of highly qualified interr-tion&l salvage firms headed by Smit Tak International Salvage Co. Ltd., of Rot ^ dam, Holland, and including Fukada Salvage Company,'Ltd. , of Japan, Ulrich Ha-"" Grabh and Co., of. Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany, and Michael J, Batty ana Associates Ltd. of Singapore. The Government of Bangladesh submitted a formal request to the United Nations on 8 September 1972 for the clearance of the approach channel and Port of Chalna, Bangladesh. Chalna is one of the country's two principal ports and its re-opening is considered essential to ensure the smooth flow of relief supplies and the establishment of a viable-Bangladesh economy. The United Nations considered that the salvage and clearance work involved was of a relief nature and the United Nations could respond to the request with the utmost urgency within the available financial resources of the United Nations Relief Operations in Dacca (UI\ROD). Within a matter of days after the Government's request was received by UNROD in New York, Captain U.F. Searle, Jr., a salvage expert of international reputation, was dispatched by the United Nations to Bangladesh. After a thorough inspection of all the sunken ships in Chalna Port and conferences with the Government of Bangladesh, Captain Searle submitted his report and recommenda- tions to UNROD. On 19 September, the major ship salvage firms of the world were invited to bid on the work. Twenty-two firms in 15 countries were solicited. Responses were received from six firms. After three weeks of careful analysis and consideration, followed by in-depth negotiations, the optimum plan representing
(more) UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOE USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/1769 FAO/2^65 6 October 1972
SPECIAL AGRICULTURAL GROUP FORMED TO EVALUATE FUTURE FOODGRAIN CROPS IN BANGLADESH
(The following is being released in New York and Rome)
In agreement with the Government of Bangladesh, United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim and Addeke H. Boerma, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), today announced the formation of a special agricultural group to evaluate future foodgrain crops in Bangladesh. The group, formed after consultation with the Government of Bangladesh and with all interested agencies of the United Nations, will be headed by G. Robert Chandler, Jr., an internationally-known authority on rice. In making the announcement, United Nations officials said that, by the end of this year, the international community will have delivered to Bangladesh about 2.5 million tons of wheat and rice — in response to urgent appeals by the Secretary-General and as a result of bilateral arrangements. The purpose of the special group will be to evaluate future harvests in Bangladesh, particularly the aman crop which yields approximately 60 per cent of total domestic production, as a means of estimating import requirements for 1973. The information compiled by the group will have a direct bearing on planning not only total requirements but also in beginning to schedule necessary imports. The estimates provided will also permit interested governments to programme future foodgrain commitments to Bangladesh. The special agricultural group is scheduled to be mobilized about the middle of October. It will consist of expert staff serving with the Government of Bangladesh, as well as staff from United Nations specialized agencies such as FAO, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
(ncre) UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Fablic Information United Nations, N.Y. (?OR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL 1IECOED)
Pre&jr Release QZ/C/2&S. IHA/145 22 September 1972
TEXT OF LETTER TO SECRETARY~GENSRAL FROM i USTRIA REGARDING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO FAKXgTAl
Following is the text of a letter dated Ik September to Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim from Peter Jankowitsch, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations, concerning humanitarian assistance to Pakistan;
"With reference to the appeals made by you in order to meet the urgent needs for humanitarian assistance in. Pakistan, contained in your letters of June 2? and August 1, and repeated during a meeting of potential donors on August 3, I have the honour to inform you that the Austrian Federal Government has decided to contribute, in response to your appeal, the amount of US $10,000,-. "Accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.M
# #•** * UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE 0? INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/C/258 IHA/142 25 August 1972
TEXT OF LETTER TO SECRETARY-GENERAL FROM NETHERLANDS REGARDING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO PAKISTAN
Following is the text of a letter dated 18 August to Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim from Christoph A. van des> KLaauw, Charge d'affaires of the Permanent Mission of the Netherlands to the United Nations, concerning humanitarian assistance to Pakistan:
"The Netherlands Government has instructed me to inform you that in reply to your appeal for help in meeting the needs for humanitarian assistance in the "border areas of Pakistan it has decided to make a contribution to the amount of one hundred thousand Netherlands guilders.* "The amount has been transmitted on August 1?, 1972, to the UNICEF account with the Amsterdam-Rotterdam Bank N«V. in Amsterdam, no. 41.64.59*013."
* #*# *
* Equivalent to $US 51,250. UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/SM/1725 IHA/132 12 July 19T2
TEXT OF LETTER TO SECRETARY-GENERAL FROM FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY REGARDING AID TO BANGLADESH
Following is the text of a letter dated 3 July to Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim from the Permanent Observer of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations, Walter Gehlho.ff, regarding a voluntary contribution for aid to Bangladesh:
"In response to your appeal of 31 'May 1972 for further contributions to meet the relief requirements of Bangladesh I have the honour to inform you that the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany has decided to make an additional grant of 15 million Deutschmarks (approximately US $ 4.7 million). Of this amount IK8 million Deutschmarks will be rcadf vailable for specified relief programmes of UNROD and UNICEF, the reicaii " $ 10.2 million Deutschmarks for financing bilateral relief programmes and relief programmes carried out by German charitable organisations.
"This new grant brings the total contribution of the Federal Republic of Germany towards meeting the relief requirements of ^'drigladesh to 52-772 million Leutschuiarks (s.pprcxiuately US $ 16.6 million)."
* •£*# * UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Note No. 3754 5 July 1972
NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS
The following statement was made by Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim in Geneva on 5 July on the agreement between India and Pakistan reached at Simla, a United Nations spokesman said today: "I welcomed the joint statement of the Prime Minister of India and the President of Pakistan, which I have read with great interest and close attention. The agreement reached in Simla represents in my opinion an essential first step on the long and necessarily arduous road to peace on the sub-continent. The joint statement encourages me to believe that the solution of these yet unresolved problems will be facilitated by this important step."
* *** * UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — HOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/SM/17l3/Rev.l* IHA/128/Rev.l 3 July 1972
TEXT OF LETTER FROM SECRETARY-GENERAL TO CERTAIN GOVERNMENTS ON EMERGENCY RELIEF MEASURES IN PAKISTAN
Following is the text of letter dated 2J June from Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim to certain Member States regarding emergency relief measures in Pakistan;
Sir,
The international community has been seriously concerned about the sizable number of Pakistan nationals displaced as a result of military activities in the border areas of Pakistan in December 19T1- I fully share this concern and I am mindful, in this regard, that one of the purposes of the United Nations is "to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of ... a humanitarian character". I ther- -re feel that the United Nations has a vital role to play in alleviating •• serious hardship and suffering which these displaced persons are experiej.. ing. It will be recalled that Mr. Vittorio Winspeare Guicciardi, my Special Representative for the solution of humanitarian problems under Security Council resolution 30? (1971) of 21 December 1971, studied this problem during his second visit to the subcontinent and reported what further concerted action might be taken by the United Nations family of organizations (.S/10512/Aad.i;. It was clear from his report that while the Government infrastructure and local resources were fully engaged and contributing actively, neither local nor national means were adequate to meet the magnitude of the need. United Nations agencies and programmes as well as a number of donor Governments have been active, in co-operation with the competent authorities, in channeling assistance to the displaced persons. Much of the relief effort in Pakistan has been co-ordinated by periodic meetings of the United Nations agencies involved, representatives of certain donor countries, and of other organizations engaged in providing assistance which were organized by the Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Development Programme in Islamabad. Donations and pledges have included, among other resources, emergency food, medicine and shelter from these sources.
(more)
* The revision to SG/SM/1718-IHA/128 of 30 June concerns the heading and the lead paragraph. UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOE USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA -- NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Note No. 3753 28 June 1972
NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS
The following statement was made today by a United Nations spokesman on the India-Pakistan summit meeting:
"The Secretary-General -welcomes this most encouraging development and very much hopes that the discussions will facilitate the solution of the many and serious problems of the sub-continent."
_v y y W A IV UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release 22 June 1972
BANGLADESH JOINS INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION
(The following is reproduced as received from ILO, Geneva,)
Bangladesh was today elected to membership in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) by the International Labour Conference meeting in Geneva.
The Conference received a letter from the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Mr. Abdus Sarnad Azad, stating that his Government accepted the obligations of the Constitution of the ILO and continued to recognize 29 international labour conventions that were in effect for Bangladesh at the time of its declaration of independence,
Bangladesh is a member of the World Health Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the International Monetary Fund, but . not of the -United Nations itself, and for this reason its application for ILO membership required a decision by the International Labour Conference.
The ILO now has 123 member States.
* #«* -* UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release IHA/124 ICEF/1132 23 May 1972
CANADIANS DONATE TO UNICSF BANGLADESK-PROGRAMME
(The following is reproduced as received from UNICEF.)
A special contribution of $85,800 for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) relief and rehabilitation programme in Bangladesh has been donated by the Canadian UNICEF Committee, UNICEF headquarters announced today. The Contribution was made possible by a grant to the Canadian UNICEF Committee from the Canadian International Development Agency and is to be used for operational costs, including handling and distribution associated with the UNICEF Child Feeding Programme in Bangladesh. The $30 million programme for Bangladesh — the largest such undertaking 1 in UNICEF s history — isx part of the over-all United Nations effort co- ordinated by the United Nations relief operation in Dacca (UNROD). While aiding nearly 10 million returned Bengali refugees and an even greater number who suffered displacement and privation inside the country, UNICEF has a special responsibility: nore than 50 per cent of the population is under 15 years of age. These children and their mothers are the most vulnerable to the unprecedented series of calamities that have stricken the already impoverished country. Bangladesh relief is still in the emergency phase — with an extra urgency added by the "race to stockpile supplies around the country before the deluge of monsoon rains (from late May through September) makes transport impossible in vast areas. UNICEF1s priorities in Bangladesh are child feeding, transport, clean water supply, mother and child health and aid to education. Using the school system as a base to reach every pe.rt of Bangladesh, UNICEF has set up a network of child feeding stations -v&ich are expected to reach some k- million children by September.
# TrVR vA vK. UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, II.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA. — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/C/2^5 IHA/123 17 May 1972
TEXT _OF^LETTER. TO S.ECRFJ?ARY-G^IERAL FROM ON CONTRIBUTION TO BANGLADESH RELIEF
FoLlowiiig is the text of a letter dated 12 May to Secretary-General Kurt T-feldheim from the Permanent Observer of Switzerland to the United Nations regarding a contribution to relief operations in Bangladesh: Text in French LTObservateur permanent de la Suisse aupres des Nations Unies presente ses compliments au Secretaire general, de 1'Organisation dec Nations Unies et a 1'honneur de lui faire savoir que le Conssil federal suisse, s reponse a 1'appel du Secretaire general en faveur de 1Toperation de secoui " *es Nations Unies au Baiigla Desh, a decide de faire un don a 1'UNROD de la v&Jeur de $750,000 (dollars sept cent cinquante rnille). Ce montant sera verse ces jours a la "Chemical Bank New York" sur le cccapte de 1TUNROD.
L'Observateur permanent de la Suisse saisit cette occasion pour renouveler au Secretaire general de lrOrganisation des Nations Unies les assurances de sa tres haute consideration.
Translation in English The Permanent Observer cf Switzerland to the United Nations presents his compliments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and has the honour to inform him that the Swiss Federal Council lias decided, in answer to the Secretary-General's appeal for the United Nations relief operations, in Bangladesh, to grant UNROD $750,000. This amount will be deposited in the next few days to the UNROD account at the Chemical Bank, New York. The Permanent Observer of Switzerland takes this opportunity to renew to the Secretary-General of the United Nations the assurances of his highest consideration. UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA. — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/C/2UJ IHA/122 1 May 1972
JAPAN ANNOUNCES $8 MILLION CONTRIBUTION FOR RELIEF IN EACCA AREA i
Following the Secretary-GeneralTs appeals of 15 and 25 February for further contributions in support of the United Nations relief operation in Dacca (UNROD), and in view of the magnitude of the needs in the area, the Secretary-General on 5 April made a specific appeal to the Government of Japan for further cash contributions to the UHROD programme. In response to these appeals, the Permanent Representative of Japan, Toru Nakagawa, informed the Secretary-General on 17 April that .his Government had decided to make available to the.United Nations an amount of cash equivalent to $US8 million as its additional contribution to UHROD. The specific purposes for which these funds will be used will be determined by the United Nations, in accordance with its regulations and procedures, on the general basis of the projection .of requirements prepared by UNROD. In his letter of 5 April the Secretary-General mentioned a number of urgent specific requirements for which a portion of the funds supplied; by the Government of Japan might be employed,, including repairs of the Ghorasal fertiliser plant, procurement of transport equipment, and the possibility of defraying the cost of transporting relief supplies. The Secretary-General has expressed his gratitude for this most generous further contribution from the Government of Japan.
* UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, H.Y, (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SC-/SM/1682 na/121 2k April 1972
TEXT_OF_i;E'rTEIl.TO SBCRETARY-GEEERAL FROM UNITED KINGDOM, ON RELIEF OPERATIONS IN BAHGLflJESH
Following is the text of a letter dated 17 April to Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim from the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the Unitsd Nations, Sir Colin Crowe, regarding relief operations in Bangladesh:
My dear Secretary-General,
SEA TRUCKS AT BANGLADESH I have been asked to pass you the following message from ^e Prime Minister. It just missed you in Santiago. « "Daring our talk last Monday you suggested we might be able to help overcome the shortage of marine transport in Bangladesh by providing 12 sea trucks. I am. glad to tell you that we can meet this requirement and the British Pligh Commission in Dacca will inform the Bangladesh Government and your relief organisation that we shall be supplying them as soon as possible. The manufacturers hope to provide the first sea truck by 27 April and we shall fly it out at the earliest opportunity. Thereafter the makers hope to produce two a week and we shall likewise send these by air as they become available." My staff will as usual be in touch with UNROD here about details over these and other deliveries. UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR uss OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/C/242 IHA/120 21 April 1972
TEXT ..OF LETTER FROM CANADA TO SECRETARY-GENERAL ON CONTRIBUTION TO BANGIADESH RELIEF OPERATIONS
Following is the text of a letter dated 21 April to Secretary-General Kurt ¥aldheim from the Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, Yvon Beaulne, regarding contributions to the relief operations in Bangladesh: Excellency, I vrote on March 27 to inform you of the additional $5 million which the Government of Canada is making available for refugee and relief operations in India and Bangladesh which you kindly acknowledged in your letter of April 7» Today I have the honour and pleasure of handing over to you personally two cheques totalling $3 million for relief operations within the United Nations system in Bangladesh. (The other $2 million has been sent directly to the UNHCR..) The first is a $1 million cheque made out to UNROD to be utilized at the discretion of that organisation. The other is a cheque for $2 million "payable to UNICEF to provide roofing materials and school supplies for Bangladesh. It would be appreciated if, at a convenient time in the future, a. "break- down of the disbursement of these funds could be made available to the Government of Canada. Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration* UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR uss OF INFORMATION MEDIA. — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD )
Note No, 17 April 1972
NOTE TO CORRESPOKDEFJ
In two Press Releases dated Ik April 1972 relating to the United Nations Relief Operation in Dacca (SG/A/121-IHA/118 and IH&/119) the name "Bangladesh" has been used. In this connexion, the position of the Secretary-General is as stated in a note included in his report of 26 February 1972 to the Security Council on the good offices mission of his Special Representative for Humanitarian Problems under Security Council resolution J07 (l97l)« This note reads as follows : "The competent organs of the United Nations, which alone can decide on the status of the area vis-a-vis the Organization, have not yet expressed themselves on the matter. The name "Bangladesh", as used by the authorities in control of the area, is therefore used in this report without any legal or pol' "cal connotations . "
### UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT ATI OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/A/121 IHA/118 1 14 April 1972
SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNOUNCES APPOIMMFJTT OF NSW CHIEF OF MISSION FOR UNITED NATIONS RELIEF OPERATION IN DACCA
Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim announced today further steps to reinforce the United Nations Relief Operation in Dacca (UNEOD). Through the good offices of the Swiss Government, the Secretary-General has obtained the services of Victor H. Umbricht as Chief of Mission of UNROD in succession to Toni Hagen,. the present Chief of Mission.
Mr. Umbricht, who is a member of the Board of Ciba-Geigy, Basle, has been released by the Board of Ciba-Geigy at the request of the Secretary-General and the Swiss Government for an extended period of service with UNROD. The Secretary-General expresses his appreciation for their co-operation.
On Tuesday, 12 April 1972, in Dacca, Sir Robert Jackson, Under-Secretary- General in over-all charge of the operation at United Nations Headquarters (see Press Release SG/A/112-IHA/lli*of 23 March 1972), personally conveyed the Secretary-General's nomination of Mr. Umbricht to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who welcomed Mr. Umbricht's appointment.
Mr. Umbricht will take charge in Bangladesh of all the work and operations carried out by UNROD and in this capacity will work in partnership with Sir Robert Jackson, who will continue to be responsible to the Secretary- General for all policy aspects of UWEOD and for the over-all co-ordination of that work with the United Nations agencies and programmes, donor Governments and other agencies and persons concerned.
Mr. Umbricht, who is expected to arrive in Dacca in early May, has had an outstanding career in the public service of his country and also in the fields of finance and industry, as well as extensive experience in assignments within the United Nations system (see biographical data below).
The Secretary-General has stated that the United Nations relief operation in Dacca is now entering a new phase. A press release on the work of the high level group of consultants under the chairmanship of Ambassador Erna Sailer is being issued separately. A general review of current and further operations will be issued within the next few days.
(more) UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA -- NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release IHA/119 Ik April 1972
SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF SPECIAL REPORT ON BANGLADESH BY HIGH-LEVEL GROUP OF CONSULTANTS
The Secretary-General announces that the drafting of Ambassador Sailer's i report on the High-Level Consultants1 Mission to Bangladesh has now been completed. The report will be distributed to Member Governments and to agencies and programia.es of the United Nations as soon as it is available from the printers. The Secretary-General wishes to acknowledge the co-operation accorded to the Mission by the Government of Bangladesh, and Ambassador Sailer will herself deliver copies of the report to the Prime Minister, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in Dacca, The- Mission's report will be in two parts. Volume I wil .. ontain a general review with certain recommendations for action that we .xd be helpful in the relief and rehabilitation of the economy of Bangladesh. Volume II will comprise sectoral reports. Detailed proposals and cost estimates will also be included, but it is pointed out that these represent only essential require- ments. The report will not "cover the requirements for further development of the economy, but the Mission is of the opinion that Bangladesh will have a continuing need of foreign assistance for several years to come.
V V V, * Tfl, A A UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release REF/662 6 April 1972
TEXT OF STATEMENT BY UNHCR AFTER VISIT TO NEW DELHI
(The following was received frcm the United Nations Information Centre, New Delhi.)
Following is the text of a statement made on 5 April by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Sadruddin Aga Khan, at the conclusion of his two-day visit to New Delhi: This is my third visit to the subcontinent since the inflow of East Bengali refugees into India last year. Following the first request of the Government of India on 23 April 1971 to the United Nations for assistance for these refugees, the Secretary-General of the United Nations designated me, in my capacity as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, as the focal point for co-ordinating assistance to Bengali refugees through the United Nations system. The influx of refugees had already assumed massive proportions when I came here in June last, and was continuing even at the time of my second visit in November. On both these occasions, I visited the refugees in their camps in eastern India and saw for myself the tragedy that had befallen them and the extent of the suffering of these uprooted men, women and children. I also saw, during these visits, the great zeal, dedication and humanity with which countless government officials were looking after the refugees. It was my privilege then to pay a richly-deserved tribute to these workers, also to senior officers of the Government who were guiding the relief operations. I had seen these refugees in camps in India and now I saw them in their own homes in Bangaladesh. As the UNHCR, there could be for me no greater satisfaction than to see these former refugees return to their own homes. The Government and people of India deserve the greatest credit for having given asylum to millions of refugees and, their own problems notwithstanding, for accepting the burden of looking after them. The burden has indeed been tremendous — $^65 million to $U80 million on relief and repatriation, according to .an aide-memoire which the Government of India presented to me in January last. Initially, almost the entire burden was shouldered by the Government of India. The response of the
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Press Release SG/C/2^0 IHA/117 3 April 1972
UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE PRESENTS $31 MILLION CHEQUE FOR UNITED NATIONS RELIEF OPERATION IN DACCA AREA
Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim this afternoon received a cheque for million fez1 the United Nations relief operation in the Dacca area from 'George Bush, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations.
At the presentation ceremony held in the Secretary-General's office, Mr. Bush read out the following text of a letter he transmitted to the Secretary-General:
"I have the honor to present to you a check for $31 million for the United Nations Relief Program in Bangladesh. This check forms part of the total grant of $35 million which my Government announced recently in further response to your appeals of February 15 and February 25. The $4 million balance will be used, according to understandings reached between our respective staffs, to procure trucks from the United States for shipment to Bangladesh.
"The total U.S. Government contribution to the United Nations Relief Operation^ Dacca since your recent appeals now. amounts to about $100 million and includes some 500,000 tons of food, a part of which is underway. I am pleased to be able to inform you that my Government is looking into the possibility of diverting food shipments destined for other points in an effort to speed up deliveries.
"It is my Government's sincere hope that these contributions will be of material assistance to the United Nations in carrying out their important humanitarian mission in Bangladesh."
Mb, Valdhem, in reply, told Vac. Bush that he could be assured that the funds would be used "in the best possible way". The situation in the area was very serious. The help offered by Mr. Bush's Government and people was most welcome.
* #*# * UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/C/239 IHA/116 3 April 1972
TEXT OF LETTER FROM IRELAND TO SECRETARY-GENERAL ON FURTHER CONTRIBUTION TO UNITED NATIONS RELIEF OPERATION.IN DACCA
Following is the text of a letter dated 28 March to Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim from the Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations, Cornelius C0 Cremin, regarding a further contribution to the United Nations Relief Operation in Dacca (UNROD}:
I have the honour to refer to your letter of 25th February /SO 570 PAKI/ appealing for further voluntary contributions in support of the United Nations relief operations in Dacca.
I have now been instructed by my Government to inform Your Excellency that the Irish Parliament has approved a further contribution in the sura of £100,000 to'be allocated as follows:
£35;000 to United Nations Relief Operation in Dacca
£35,000 to United Nations Children's Fund
£15,000 to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as focal point for refugee assistance in India
£15,000 to the Irish Red Cross for the International Red Cross effort in Bangladesh
It would be appreciated if, insofar as feasible, as much of the contribu- tion to UNROD as possible could be expended in Ireland.
Accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
* UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/C/237 IKA/11^ 29 March 1972
OF LETTSR FROM UNITED STATES TO SECRETARY-GENERAL ON CONTRIBUTION TO RELIEF PROGRAM'.'?] IN DACCA AREA
Following is the text of letter dated 22 March to Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim from the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, George Bush, regarding a contribution to the United Nations Relief Operation in Dacca (UNROD):
Dear Mr. Secretary-General:
Pursuant to your appeal of February 15, 1972, the US Government has authorized a grant of $35 million for the UN relief program in Bangladesh.
These funds may be used for the following general purposes:
— $15 million to help cover urgent transport and internal logistical requirements, including provision of cargo handling equipment, chartering inland waterway vessels, repair or reconstruction of logistical facilities and charter of aircraft.
— $15 million to finance relief import requirements, including trucks (to be provided in kind), agricultural inputs, pumps and parts, roofing and other construction materials.
— $lj- million for imported materials and local costs connected with the j rehabilitation, furnishing, and supplying of schools, hospitals and health centers.
— $1 million for UNROD administrative costs.
Staff members of the Agency for International Development will be conferring with your staff on an urgent bs.sis to work out the mechanics of making such funds available, and the procedures under whicli this grant will be implemented-
I would like, in this connexion, to call your attention to a matter which is of some concern to my Government. As you know there has been a variety of press reports on assistance going to Bangladesh from both multilateral and bilateral sources. There have also been varying reports on the scale of actual deliveries
(more) - 2 - Press Release SG/C/237 IRA/Ilk 29 March 1972 of such aid to Bangladesh. But there has been no authoritative statement on the matter. My Government believes it would be most helpful if the United Nations could provide periodically public statements on amounts' of assistance pledged and delivered, both from multilateral and bilateral sources. Such statements, we believe, would call attention to the valuable role the United Nations is playing in this important program, and incidentally help potential' donor countries secure wide public support for this United Nations effort.
Previous Letter
In a previous letter dated 25 February 1972, Ambassador Bush -wrote to the Secretary-General as follows:
I have the honor to inform you that my Government, in response to your appeal of February 15 on behalf of the United Katxons Relief Operation, Dacca, has decided on a number of actions which will be announced shortly. The announcement will make clear that these actions are taken under your leadership and that they form part of the general U.S. support for UWROD.
Specifically, my Government will make available the following: Bulk wheat in the amount of 100,000 tons, and bagged rice in the amount of 75?000 tons; with a combined value of $23.5 million. Our services will consult on the shipping details. An amount of $300,000 in cash &s a first contribution to the operating costs of UNROD. A $3-^5 million contribution to the creation of emergency shelter for the displaced population. These amounts will be made available for programs currently under way by two voluntary agencies; i.e., Catbolic Relief Services and CARE, which have been long active in tue housing field in this area. My Government is gratified that' UNIIOD intends to have the voluntary agencies participate actively in the program... These steps are considered by my Government as an initial contribution to the UNROD program. Others will follow. It would be most helpful to my Government if the Secretary General could from time to time inform member nations of all assistance, both multilateral and "bilateral, going to the area in order to' make it possible for my Government to judge its appropriate share in such assistance.
TtyVr -Ay 7VC 7Vv. ,VT^T
Note: The United States Government has informed the Secretary-General that it is making another contribution to the UNROD programme as follows: — 200,000 tons of grains valued at $21 million, and 25,000 tons of vegetable oil valued at $10 million. Moreover, the United States Government has contributed $6.77 million to US and international voluntary agencies which are active in humanitarian work in the area in co-operation with UTTTOD. UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y, (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — -NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release ICEF/1106 IEA/113 29 March 1972 •
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN UNICEF PROGRAMME IN DACCA AREA
(The following is reproduced as received from UNICEF,)
To assist in the relief and rehabilitation of the millions of men, women and children in the Dacca area affected by the recent conflict, Henry R, Labouisse, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fundr (UNICEF), has outlined a $20 million programme Tor the Dacca area in 1972 — the largest in UNICEF's history.
Donations from non-governmental organizations announced to UNICEF during the year amount to $2,^14,500. The main contributors were:
Apple Record Company of New York (sales of "Bangladesh Record Album") ,.,... $1,200,000
UNICEF National Committee of Australia, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland (with the Swiss Committee as largest contributor with $312,500) 386,TOO
Oxford Famine Relief (OXFAM), United Kingdom 375,600
Save the Children Fund, Sweden 312,000
Cnritas, Federal Republic of Germany 76,000
Council of Organizations for Service Overseas (CORSO), New Zealand 30,000
Mr, Labouisse, while expressing his deep gratitude for the donations already made, pointed to the urgent need for additional financial support.
Ship Arrives
In the Dacca area, the SB SPITFIRE has been unloaded in Chittagong harbour after its arrival from the United States. It had carried the largest ever single shipment of high-protein food mixtures — 17,283 metric- tons of CSM (corn-soya-milk mixture), WSB (wheat-soya blend), and bulgar — which was
(more) - 2 - Press Release ICEF/1106 IHA/115 29 March 1972 originally destined for shipment to India, "but diverted to the UNICEF-assisted child feeding programme in the Dacca area. The SPITFIRE carried 645,055 bags of CSM, 55,981 "bags of WSB, and 59,962 bags of bulgar. It is the largest cargo vessel carrying the largest single cargo to arrive in the Dacca area in the past year. The high-protein food was unloaded and transferred to river boats for transshipment to river ports in the area around Dacca and Khulna for use in the child feeding programme pipeline. The child feeding programme is one of the main categories in UNICEF's $20 million relief and rehabilitation programme for the Dacca area. A rough breakdown of the programme follows: — $2 million for child feeding programmes; — $4.5 million for health services; — $6 million for clean water supply; — $5 million for education; and — $2.5 million for transport assistance.
* *## * UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/C/236 IHA/112 REF/661 28 March 1972
TEKT OF LETTER TO SECRETARY-GENERAL FROM CANADA ON CONTRIBUTION " TO RELIEF OPERATIONS IN INDIA AMD DACCA AREA
Following is the text of a letter dated 2? March to Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim from the Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations Yvon Beaulne, concerning a contribution to United Nations relief operations in India and the Dacca arear
I have the honour to inform you that in response to your appeal of February 23 the Government of Canada is prepared to make available an additional .,$5 million for the .relief- of refugees in India and displaced persons in Bangladesh. Of this amount the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees will receive a cash grant of $2 million to help ease the heavy economic "burden .on India occasioned by refugee operations. The remaining $3.million to-be made available to the United Nations Relief Operations in Bangladesh. Of this amount, $1 million will be spent on roofing materials and $1 million to buy urgently needed school supplies for Bangladesh. The remaining $1 million is a cash contribution to provide flexibility to UNRO as the coordinating body for UNICSF, the World Food Program and the World Health Organization. This new allocation is additional to earlier contributions to relief „ cperations in India and Bangladesh by the Government and people of Canada totalling over $22 million. Canada extended diplomatic recognition to Bangladesh on February 14 and this week, reflecting Canadian concern for the needs of the new nation .and its people, the President of the Canadian International Development Agency, Mr. Paul Gerin-Lajoie, is visiting Dacca at the head of a relief and development assistance team. On his return to Canada, Mr. Ge'rin-Lajoie is expected to make recommendations for the disbursement of the $5«5 million remaining from previous allocations to the Canadian International Emergency Relief Fund for refugees in India and relief in Bangladesh.
(more) - 2 - Press Release SG/C/236 IHA/112 REP/661 ' .28 March 1972
Text in French'
J'ai 1'honneur de vous faire savoir qu'en reponse a votre appel du 23. £evrier le gouvernement du Canada est pr§t a affecter une sonnne addition- nelle de 5 millions de dollars aux oeuvres de secours pour les refugie's en Inde et les personnes deplacees au Bangla Desh. Le Haut-Comraissaire des Nations Unies pour les refugies recevra une subvention en argent de 2 millions de dollars destinee a soulsger le lourd fardeau economique que les operations . de secours des refugie's ont impost a 1'Inde* Le solde de 3 millions de dollars sera mis a la disposition des Operations de secours des Nations Unies a Dacca (UNROD). De ces trois millions, un million servira & 1'achat de materiel scolaire dont le Bangla Desh a un urgent besoin. Le dernier million sera verse en especes et donnera a 1'UKHOD la souplesse qu'exige son r6le d'organisme de coordination du FISE, du Programme alimentaire mondial et de 1TOrganisation mondiale de la sant£. Cette nouvelle contribution est offerte en plus des contributions anterieures du gouvernement et du peuple canadiens aux operations de secours en Inde et au Bangla Desh et dont • le total depasse 22 millions de dollars. Le Canada a reconnu le Bangla Desh le lU fevrier dernier. Cette semaine, M.- Paul Gerin-Lajoie, president de I'Agence'canadienne de developpement international, se rend a Dacca 'a la tete d'une ^quipe de secours marquant ainsi 1'interit que le Canada porte aux besoins du nouvel Etat et de son peuple. .On s'attend qu'S, son retour, M.-Gerin-Lajoie fasse des recommandations quant h 1'affectation d'un solde de 5 millions et demi de dollars provenant des contributions anterieures versees par le Ponds canadien de secours internationaux pour les refugies en Inde et les personnes deplacees au Bangla Desh et qui n'a pas encore £t£ depense. .•'.'••. .
# #** UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N,Y. (FOR USE op INJTORMATION MEDIA — HOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG-/A/112 IBA/111 23 March 1972
APPOINTS SIR BOB5RT JACKSON TO TAKE (TVER-ALL CHAEC-?J OF UNITED NATIONS RELIEF OPERATION IN DACCA
Secretary-General Kurt Tfaldheim has appointee Sir Robert jackson to take over-all charge of the United Nations relief operation in Dacca.
•This operation was set up in June 1971 ai-& 1'7as endorsed by the General Assembly in resolution 2790 (XXVT) which wss unanimously adopted on 6 December 1971.' In his report of 15 February 1972 to the General Assembly and the Security Council (document A/8662-S/10539) the Secretary-General gave an account of the current situation and the plans for the future of the United Nations relief operation in Dacca, In the concluding part of this report, the Secretary- General stated that he saw in General Assembly resolution 2790 (XXVl) and Security Council resolution 307 (1971) of 21 December 1971, a clear mandate for him to continue the United Nations relief operation in Dacca and that it was his intention to exert every possible effort to continue to provide emergency relief assistance to the people of the area. He indicated that to meet but the cost immediate needs of the effected area, so as to avert the threat of large-scale misery and hunger, additional assistance in excess of $5^5 million would be required for the remainder of 1972, and he hoped that the international community would provide as great a part as possible of the total requirements, both through the United Nations and through other channels.
Paul-Marc Henry was in charge of the operation from 2k August 1971 until 29 February 1972= The Secretary-General takes this opportunity to express his deep .appreciation for the outstanding services rendered by Mr. Henry during his tenure,
Sir Robert Jackson, a national of Australia, was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1911. From 1962 to 1971 he was a Special Consultant to the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme at Head.quarte.rs and during the period 1968-1970 was the United Nations Commissioner in charge of the Study of the Capacity of the United Nations Development System. In 1972 he was assigned as a Senior Consultant in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
(more) Press Release SG/A/112 IHA/111 23 March 1972
Prior to 1962, Sir Robert had undertaken a variety of important assignsents „ After serving in the Royal Australian Havy from 1929 to 1937 he was transferred to the Royal Navy and in 1938 planned the defence and rearmament of Malta, In 1939 he was seconded to the British Army as Chief Staff Officer to the Commander-in-Chief, Malta, and in this capacity he introduced in 19-^0 the co-ordinated supply scheme for the Fortress which decided the formation of Malta convoys « From 19^1 to 19^ Sir Robert Aras the Director-General of the Middls-Sast Supply Centre,, which controlled all civilian and cerbain major military supplies in the region extending from Tunisia to India and from Turkey to South Africa (first Anglo-American organization of the Second World Far) and also served as Principal Adviser to the British ¥ar Cabinet Minister in the Middle East before his transfer to the United Kingdom Treasury.
From 19^-5 "to 19^-7 Sir Robert w-is the senior Deputy Director-General of the United Nations P.elief and Rehabilitation Administration (UMRRA) and controlled U1IREA operations in Europe, the Soviet Union, China, South Kcrea, Ethiopia and elsewhere. In 19^8 he joined the United nations as Assistant Secretary-General in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General. In 19)4-9 he returned to the British Treasury. From 1950 to 19?2 he on loan to the Australian Government and during that period he established the Ministry of Kational Development and participated in the development of the Sno'wy Mountains Authority. In 1952-1953 he participated in the establishment of Planning Commissions in India and Pakistan and from 1953 to 1967 he periodically advised the Government of India~-on development plans. He was Commissioner in charge of the Volta River Project in what is now Ghana fron 1953 to 1956 and Chairman of the Ghana Development Commission from 1957 "bo
-3BJ-* * UNITED NATIONS Press Sect?"on Office of Public Information United Nations, N,Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/C/235 IHA/110 REF/660 111- March 1972
TEXT 0?JEETi;EP, TO SECRETARY-GENERAL. FROM DENMARK ON CONTRIBUTION 2LQ. ,UNITgD NATIONS RELIEF OPERATION IN DACCA
Following is the text of a letter dated 8 March to Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim from the Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations, Otto Boreh, regarding a contribution to the United. Nations Relief Operation in Dacca (UNROD) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR):
I have the honour with reference to your note of February 25, 1972 — SO 570 PAKI — concerning further voluntary contributions in support of the United Nations relief operation in Dacca to inform you that the Danish Government has obtained parliamentary approval of an appropriation in the amount of 25,000,000 Danish kroner (approximately 3,510,000 dollars) for an extraordinary contribution to international relief work in connection with the return of -che refugees to Bangla Desh. Of this amount 111-,000,000 Danish kroner (approximately 2,000,000 dollars) have been transferred to the UNHCR for food rations, transport and travel allowances to the refugees for their journey home inside Bangla Desh and 7,000,000 Danish kroner (approximately 1,000,000 dollars) will be spent for relief operations in Eangla Desh partly through the United Nations relief operation in Dacca, while the remaining . U,000,000 Danish kroner (approximately 510.;000 dollars) will be contributed through the Danish voluntary relief organizations.
•* #-*# UKITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AW OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release IHA/1C9 2 March 1972 .
TEXT 0? LETTER TO SESRICTARY--GEWERAL FROM SWEDEN ON CONTRIBUTION TO UNITED NATIONS RELIEF OPERATION IN DACCA
Following is the text of a letter dated 29 February to Secretary-General Kurt Faldheim from the Charge d'Affaires a.i, of the Permanent'Mission of Sweden to the United Nations, Kaj Sundberg, regarding a contribution to the United Nations Relief Operation in Caeca (UKROD):
"I have the honour to inform you that the Swedish Government has decided to make a contribution of Swedish kronor 22,500,000 in cash and in kind to the United NationsTs Relief Operation, Dacca (UN30D).
"The contribution consists of:
lr(l) an immediate cash contribution of Sw.kr. 5 million;
"'(II) 15,000 ton fertilizers (UREA) at a value of Sw.kr. 7.2 million; and
"(HI) an earlier contribution of Sw.kr. 500,000 for transport of blankets,
"The remaining part (Sw.kr. 9,800,000) will be decided on after consultations between the Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA) and UNROD.
"Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration."
* UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/C/233 IHA/108 REF/659 2 March 1972
TEXT OF LETTER TO SECRETLY-GENERAL FROM ITALY ON CONTRIBUTION TO UNITED NATIONS RELIEF OPERATION IN DACCA
Following is the text of a letter dated 25 February to the Secretary- General from the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations regarding a contribution to the United Nations Relief Operation in Dacca (UNROD): The Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations presents his compliments to the Secretary-General of the Organization and has the honour to inform His Excellency that: (a) in response to the appeal for assistance to the Bangla Desh populations, the Italian Government is considering the possibility to give a contribution in the frame of UNROD programme;
(b) the Italian Government has also decided to give to the United Nations High Commissioner f-or Refugees in Geneva a contribution of Italian liras 14 million for assistance to the Bangla Desh populations.
The Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations avails himself of this opportunity to renew to the Secretary-General of the Organization the assurances of his highest consideration. UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Hations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA -- WOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/SM/l6^2 IHA/106 28 February 1972
SECRETARY-GENERAL APPEALS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS FOR RELIEF IN DACCA AREA
Following is the text of a communication, dated 25 February from Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim to the Governments of all States Members of the United Nations and members of the specialized agencies:
I have the honour to refer to the appeal for further voluntary contribu- tions in support of the United Nations relief operation in Dacca, which-I addressed to Governments as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and private sources in my report of 15 February 1972 to the General Assembly and the Security Council (A/8662-S/10539).
As indicated in that report, additional assistance in excess of $565.,000.,000 will be required for the remainder of 1972 to meet but .the most immediate needs of the affected area so as to avert the threat of large- scale misery and hunger, and it is hoped that the international community will provi'de as great a part as possible of the total requirements, both through the United Nations and through other channels. The report also points out that substantial additional voluntary contributions, in cash and in kind, will be urgently required if the United Nations is to continue its humanitarian activities.
I very much hope that your Government will respond generously to my appeal in support of this humanitarian mission of the United Nations.
* #** # UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/A/111 IHA/10T 28 February 1972
COMPOSITION OF CONSULTANTS' GROUP TO DACCA AREA ANNOUNCED
Secretary-General Kurt Waldheiiu today announced the appointment of the members of the high-level group of consultants which he has decided to send to the Dacca area. His decision to send the group was announced in his report of 15 February to the General Assembly and the Security Council (document A/8662-S/10539). The group, • which will be headed by the Austrian Ambassador to India, Mrs. Erna Sailer, will consist of the following persons: Transport A.J. Carmichael, Chief, Ports Division, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) A. Lewis, Railways Consultant, IBRD H. Kaden, Roads Specialist, IBRD K,M. Gyi, Ports Sepcialist, IBRD Teleccnnuni cat ions C.R. Dickinson, Deputy Chief, Telecommunications Division, IBRD B. Jbhnsson, Te3.ecojBffi«ni cations Specialist, IBRD Agriculture R. Picciollo, Chief, Special Projects Office, IBRD S.V. Allison, Staff Member, Special Projects Office, IBRD U Phu, Agricultural Consultant, IBRD G. de Brichambaut, Agricultural Specialist, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/IBRD Cooperative Programme Monetary/fiscal T. Thin, Deputy Directorj Apia Division, International Monetary Fund. (IMF) M. Salgarde, Assistant Director, Asia Division, IMF W. Hughes, Division Chief, IMF Education ¥. Miller, Deputy Chief, Planning Education, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO.) (more) - 2 - Press Release SG/A/111 IHA/10T 28 February 1972
Health Dr. D. Savic, Health Adviser, World Health Organization ("WHO) UNIC3F T. Da vies, Special Representative (in Dacca) to Executive Director of United Nations Children's Fund
Rapporteur . N. Eichhorn, Desk Officer, Far East Division, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
The IBRD is providing the staff for the transport, telecommunications and agricultural sections, except for G. de Bricharabaut, who is with the FAO/IBRD Cooperative Programme in Rome. The IMF is making available the aonetary/fiscal experts.
Other United Nations agencies will be furnishing the following staff: WHO - Dr. Savic, who is serving with UNICEF in Dacca; UNESCO - Mr. de Brichambaut; and UNDP - Mr. Eichhorn. Each member has been assigned to the consultative group not as a member of his parent agency but rather as a specialist in his particular field.
The group is scheduled to assemble in New Delhi by 3 March for organisational briefings with. Mrs. Sailer and proceed to Dacca on 5 March. Approximately two weeks will be spent in-country.
The objectives of the group are to:
1. Review relief/rehabilitation requirements for the balance of 1972.
2. Recommend technical assistance activities for the period in question.
3- Evaluate the need for special studies to be undertaken to ease the transition from relief to rehabilitation. UNITED NATIONS Pi-ess Section Office of Public Information. United Nations, N.Y, (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/C/230 IHA/lO-'i Ik February 1972
CHILE CONTRIBUTES $6,000 FOR AID TO REFUGEZSS IN INDIA
The Government of Chile has sent to Secretary-General Kurt "Waldheim a cheque for $6,COO as a contribution for United Nations efforts to assist refugees in India. The cheque was sent along with a letter dated 11 February from Humberto Dias-Casanueva, Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations, stating that the money "symbolises the solidarity of the people and Government of Chile with the suffering of so many human beings vho are the victims of disturbances which we all deplore".
•&##• * UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA -- NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG IHA/105 REF/657 9 February 1972
SECRETARY-GENERAL'tSI SPECIAL JEFKBgENgATIVE FOR HUMANITARIAN PROBLEMS TO VISIT NEW DELHI AND DACCA
At the request of the Secretary-General, Vittorio Winspeare Guicciardi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Humanitarian Problems under Security Council resolution 3^7 (l97l)j will be making a second visit to the subcontinent in pursuance of his mission to take up a number of humanitarian problems with the parties concerned. Mr, Winspeare will be leaving Geneva for New Delhi on 9 February 1972. He plans to visit Dacca after a short stay in New Delhi.
It will.be recalled that Mr. Winspeare undertook his first visit to the subcontinent from 27 December 1971 until 12 January 1972. Following this . visit the Secretary-General submitted a report on the mission of his Special Representative to the Security Council on 17 January (document S/10512). At the conclusion of this report the Secretary-General stated, "I shall of course keep under review the various humanitarian problems of concern to his mission and take further action if deemed desirable in pursuance of the relevant provisions of Security Council resolution 307 (l9Tl)*" UNITED W A T I 0 K 3 Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N,Y, (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL FCCORD)
Frees Release SG/C/229/Rev,l IKA/102/Eev.l 2 February 1972
UNITED KINGDOM ANNOUNCES CONTRIBUTION TO R3LIEF OPERATION IN DACCA
The United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations announced today a contribution of £500,000 ($1.275 million) to the United Nations Relief Operation in Dacca • (UNROB). During the past six months, the United Kingdom Government has naole available $^.G million to the United Nations for relief In the Dacca area. Of the latter amount., $1.2 million was paid to the United Nations on 10 August 1971, while $2.U million is being contributed in kind.
It was announced on 18 January that the United Kingdom would make available a further $2.55 million for relief in the area, bringing total official British contributions to $7.35 million. The United Kingdom has also contributed $35.^ million to the United Nations refugee effort in India.
According to the latest information available at United Naticnn • . Headquarters, UNROD operations In the Dacca area now include use of the following:
— 21 vessels providing logistic support primarily for food distribution; — 1|-50 trucks in operation, with 150 more on their -way to Chittagcng; — Two STOL (Short Take-Off and Landins)-type aircraft, plus one "Skyvan" from the United Kingdom under its pledge in kind; — An automotive /truck maintenance project in operation to service k^Q to 600 truckss operated by UKROD and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF); — 12 ."vac-u-vators", special machines for the movement of grain, also on their way to the area;
— A WnCE? child-feeding project with the capacity to feed 1 million has been restarted with personnel, food supplies and other relief items;
— Shipments of 1 million blankets are being expedited. Air shipments from Bangkok and Europe have been mc.de. 'Blankets which were previously sent for refugee 3. in Calcutta are being diverted.
(mo- - ) PieGR Release SG/C/229/Rev.l IHA/102/Rev.l 2 February 1972
The follovrir-s is a tabulation of voluntary contributions by Governments to UNROD. (Pledges as of 2 February 1972.)
PLEDGED
CASH KIND TOTAL
AUSTRIA $ 35,000 $ 35,000
AUSTRALIA 200,000 $ 950,7^8 1,150,743 BELGIUM 858,927 - 858,927 CANADA 1^95,050 7,000,000 7,^95,050 CHILE 3,000 3,oco DENMARK 273,729 273,729 FRANCE 1*52,899 ^52,899 GERMANY (FED .REP.) 1*, 518,072 3,000,000 7,518,072
HOLY SEE 5,000 - 5,000
JAPAN 1,000,000 1,000,000
NETHERLANDS 2,228,916 3,068,000 5,296,916
HEW ZEALAND 13,500 13,500
NORWAY 51*8,000 5^8,000
SWEDEN 1,500,000 •1,500,000
SWITZERLAND 1*67,062 1^67,062
UNITED KINGDOM 2, 1*8**, 500 2,1*20,000 l)-,9C'-^OCO
UNITED STATES 5,000,000 59,139,000 6k, 139, ooo
TOTALS 18,60^,093 77,058,310 95,659,903 — .
* **\ * UNITED .N-A T I 0 N S Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF. INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
CAUTION: ADVANCE TEXT ' ••••'•• • Press Release SG/C/281 Not for use before 12:00 noon EST . IHA/160 (1700 GMT) Friday. 5 January ; ' 5 January 1972
SECRETARY-GENERAL AGAIN APPEALS TO GOVERNMENTS FOR AID TO BANGLADESH
He Says Food Grains, Transport, Cash Are Needed to Preserve laves'
. Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim today publicly appealed again to Governments to: take all action necessary to provide the people of Bangladesh with the food grains and transport essential to preserve their lives during the coming year. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organiza- tion (FAO) has associated himself completely with the Secretary-General's appeal and given it his full support. Both the Secretary-General and FAO Director-General Addeke H. Boerma have emphasized both the scale of the threat to life and the -rgency for taking action without delay if a major crisis — and possibl •* A tragedy -- is to be averted later this year.
As announced-previously, the Chandler Food Mission has estimated that -- primarily as a result of a disastrous shortfall in the Aman harvest following the"failure of-the monsoon rains — 2,500,000. tons of food grains will have to be imported into Bangladesh this year. The Government of Bangladesh — conforming to its policy of "self help" — has already started to commit'tip to one third of its reserves of foreign currency in order to purchase approximately 800,000 tons of these imports and also to charter part of the inland water transport, necessary to handle them. This is the maximum amount that the Government can .safely commit in its efforts to meet the crisis in 1975, for to spend more would be selfrdefeating as it would be at the direct expense of investment in the agricultural sector, which is imperative if food production is to be . increased in future years. ' • If widespread malnutrition, and almost certainly starvation, are to be avoided.in 1973, 1,700,000 tons, of food grains will need to be provided by Governments interested in assisting Bangladesh, and also a further $5 million will.have to be contributed in cash so that the United Nations Relief Operation in Dacca (UNROD) can continue to provide certain inland water transport services. (more) UNITED Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
Press Release SG/C/228 IHA/101 REF/656 5 January 1972
TEXT 0? LETTER TO SECRETARY GENERAL FROM AUSTRIA ON AID TO EAST PAKISTANIS
Following is the text of a letter dated 29 December to the Secretary- General from Wolfgang Wolte, Acting Permanent Representative of Austria to the United. Nations, regarding humanitarian aid to East Pakistanis:
I have the honour to inform you that my Government, in response to your appeal of June 16, 1971 and in accordance with resolution A/:Res/2793 (XXYl), has decided to make a further contribution to the United Nations Programme of humanitarian relief in East Pakistan in the amount of US$ 35,000. This amount will be paid in January 1972. Please accept, dear Mr. Secretary-General, the assurances of my highest consideration.
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