UN Secretariat Item Scan - Barcode - Record Title Pa9e 1 3 Date 26/06/2006 Time 2:45:16 PM S-0901-0001-07-00001 Expanded Number S-0901 -0001-07-00001 items-in-fVietnam] - general - relief and reconstruction assistance to Indo-China by United Nations Organs and Special Agencies Date Created 08/01/1973 Record Type Archival Item Container S-0901 -0001 : Vietnam and Indo-China 1 972-1 981 Print Name of Person Submit Image Signature of Person Submit rv 17 August 1973 ' -, '••' • . ?:' Dear Mr. Beaumont, •"-•"''"• ""'. «. '.-: .•• . - -''.'•"' - .' '• ; In the Secretajry-General's absence I wish to acloiowledge receipt of your letter of 23 July 1973* tinder cover of which you forward the text of a letter from Mr. Labouisse to the Vice President of the t)RV Red Cross. ' •v -.-.," , • . ; , . -.- -••."••...••• •. •*« \ '••• • '"•••-. '•;' ' " / : " "- •" - ... • r,' . .; .. • '_ .f. • '.. .'"'''. ' ', * •" ' ' ' " :', ' :~ - •.: ',.'•/. •"'.." • - -.'. ' ••; Yours sincerely, '.-..".- ; -Brian E, Urquhart Assistant Secretary-General Mr . Jacques Beaumont . ":'/,'• •"-,".••. Indochin' a Peninsula Liaiso' n Group United Nations • Hew York, N.Y. TELEPHONE PLAZA 4-1234 UNICEF UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND • FONDS DES NATIONS UNIES POUR L'ENFANCE UNITED NATIONS. NEW YORK IPLG-38/73 23 July 1973 Dear Mr. Secretary General, Please, find attached herewith the text of the letter addressed by Mr. Henry R. Labouisse, Executive Director of UNICEF, on 23 July, to Doctor Nguyen Van Tin, Vice-President of the DRV Red Cross, who is also Vice- Minister of Health, and whom the delegation of UNICEF, comprised of Mr. M. Sandberg and myself, met twice in Hanoi. Following the two meetings held by the UNICEF delegation in Hanoi with the Special Representative of the PRG, Mr. Nguyen Van Tien, Head of the Special Mission in Hanoi, a cable addressed to him is being drafted. As soon as it is in final form, a copy will be forwarded to you. Yours sincerely, Q e_J>i^, <O-e.O-x? ~ <~~c"-~' Jacques Beaumont J Indochina Peninsula Liaison Group Mr. Kurt Waldheim Secretary General United Nations New York Letter addressed from Mr. Henry R. Labouisse, Executive Director of UNICEF TO Doctor Nguyen Van Tin, Vice President, DRV Red Cross Dear Mr. Vice-President, ^- I am writing to express on behalf of UNICEF my ihanks for the way the authorities of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Red Cross have received two of our senior staff, Mr. Martin Sandberg and Mr. Jacques Beaumont. They have both told me of the warm welcome and. courtesies extended to them on this their first visit to your country. I have had also a full report from them on the Sis cuss ions held in Hanoi^from 30 June to 7 July 1973- These discussions were for the purpose of.seeking a basis for cooperation between year country and UNICEF and,' more specifically, to identify concrete -ways in which UNICEF might provide support and assistance to programmes for the "benefit of children and mothers in the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam in such fields as health and educatior . I have been impressed by the • friendly spirit of mutual cooperation in which these discussions were held, as reported by our staff. Since the beginning of our cooperation, which was initially marked by the shipment of some cloth for children's clothing, we have entered into consultations with your representatives, first In Paris and later on in Moscow, to see how UNICEF might assist more extensively the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nani in its reconstruction efforts in order to progressively improve the conditions of its children and mothers. I was happy to learn that during the week of their visit to your country, the representatives of UITICEF were able to ireet continually with representatives of the Red Cross and with experts in various fields of concern to children and mothers. This working grcnp, I understand, was able to review not only the general and specific working methods of UNICEF, but also the needs of children and mothers in the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam, the priorities and approaches dstermined by the authorities concerned to meet these needs, and the stoport from UNICEF which they could find particularly useful and relevant to these approaches. I have also noted the design, form and contents of sush support required in the immediate future, notably for the year 1973, ia the fields of health and education, involving the procurement of drags, medical supplies and hospital equipment, as well as teaching aids for education. The list of requirements, which the UNICEF delegation submitted to me as your concrete proposals for 1973, will serve as a basis for immediate action for which I have given my" agreement, subject to technical exami- nation and clarification on some, items, their availability and appro- priateness for IMICEF assistance. The services of UMCEF will begin shipment of available items as quickly as shipping arrangements can be made, and will undertake procurement action on such oiher items, as the- technical examination shall indicate are available anS suitable. , .. ._. The UNICEF action will also include, if possible^ answers to speci- fic requests for information on such masters as -che EEST; suitable reaching * aids, including the types of blackboards needed. Our services will also- M be in touch -with yours to ensure that the technical specification of available materials conform with the specific needs cff the services and programmes concerned. _ . I believe you know that, while UNICEF already has- some modest re- sources available for assistance, its ability to extend substantial aid to your country will depend on the financial resources to be made available to it on a multinational basis, from governmental and non- governmental resources. I can report that I have already initiated a series of renuests to governments that may be interested in making contributions. •In addition to the proposals for 1975 action, I lave also noted that a more general review has undertaken, during the visit of our delegation, concerning childrens' needs and programmes which may renuire UNICEF assistance and cooperation in 197^. I understand that such assistance would be related to activities under the direction of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and the Committee for the Protection of Mothers and Children. The tentative list of re-uirements for 197^-5 which was brought back by Mr. 5andberg and Mr. Beaumont, will be studied as soon as possible by UNICEF. We will later communicate certain general and specific suggestions which could serve as a basis for further joint consultation of UHTCEF with the Red Cross and experts of technical ministries in Hanoi aiming at a mutual determination of a final programme of cooperation for 197^« ' * I am also informed that the group discussed in Sanoi a certain number of practical questions concerning future communications between us, arrangements for shipping, the handling of supplies and e"uipment, identification markings, as well as mutual financial responsibility. I understand that, at this stage of our cooperation, the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam has been authorized by the *r Government to discuss with UHICEF its programme of aid, to receive, acknowledge and take responsibility for the distribution of supplies and equipment made available by UNICEF, maintain records of their final use and provide necessary information, and to do so in relation with the technical services interested in the different aspects of this programme, namely in the fields of health, education, protection of the 'mother and child and poccibly others. As also discussed in Hanoi, I confirm that officially designated representatives of lEHCEF will be made available to the Government as and when'mutually agreed. They will be directly responsible for working with you on all matters pertaining to the planning and im- plementation of UNICEF aid to the Democratic Republic and will be ready to visit your country again when and as advisable. In closing, let me say that I am very happy that we have been able to take these first steps toward a cooperative prograrsme of benefit to the children of the Democratic Republic of -Yiet-lTam. I am convinced that as a result of the experience in providing assistance in 1973, the cooperation of UMTCE? with your country will develop and contribute to serve the needs of mothers and children in the longer period, of reconstruction, Accept, Sir, the assurance of r-:j highest consideration. Henry R. Labouisse Executive Director, UNICEF OS- TELEPHONE PLAZA 4-1234 CABLE ADDRESS UNICEF UNICEF UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND • FUNDS DES NATIONS UNIES POUR L'ENFANCE UNITED NATIONS. NEW YORK IPLG-39/73 23 July 1973 Dear Mr. Secretary General, Please, find attached herewith the text of the letter presently addressed by Mr. Henry R. Labouisse, Executive Director of UNICEF, to 15 governments (list enclosed) requesting of those governments special advance contributions toward the Indochina programme, for the amount of US$2.5 to US$3 million "to help carry out existing and possibly expanded programmes in the Republic of Vietnam, in Laos and in the Khmer Republic and also to meet some of the immediate needs of children and mothers in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and in territory controlled by the PRG." Paragraph 1O of the letter states: "In considering the present request, your Government might wish to know that, while UNICEF has acted in this matter on the basis of its own mandate and with the approval of its Executive Board, "I have kept Secretary General Waldheim regularly and fully informed. He supports our line of action. "I should also tell you that I am not, at this time, making a general or public appeal for funds, but I am simply approaching a limited number of governments that I feel may be willing to consider making special contributions, some of whom have already expressed their interest to me." Yours sincerely, Jacques Beaumont Indochin Peninsula Liaison Group Mr.