Speech #890180521

Let me assure the members of this committee that private philanthropic groups are giving valuable assistance in South Vietnam. Their story is a noble one. that deserves to be told. A recent onthespot survey by representatives of the American Council of Voluntary Agencies for Foreign Service reported that "the refugee situation In Vietnam is in good hands." They found 43 voluntary agencies with either operational or supporting interest In Vietnam. Their varied programs are supplementing that of the Government of Vietnam and the Agency for International Development. These nongovernmental groups serve special needs and establish direct persontoperson relationships where Government programs cannot operate so easily. Twentyeight private agencies were running refugee relief programs. For example: CARE is distributing packages financed by donations of the American people. including school supplies. tools. and seeds. needle trade kits to accompany sewing machines. and rice. salt. and fish. purchased locally. Catholic Relief Services is expanding its services by 2 percent for school lunch programs. family feeding stations. and relief of war victims. It will quadruple its shipments of medicines. expand its vocational schools and cooperatives. and increase orphanages and social welfare services. Church World Service took part in the initial refugee program in 1954 when 800.000 Vietnamese fled south. It has returned to Vietnam to serve the new influx of refugees. providing nurses and medical units. community development and agricultural teams. and some supplies for direct relief. Other churchrelated agencies providing similar services and supplies include the Christian Childrens Fund. the American Friends Service Committee. and the Mennonite Central Committee. Other agencies with special competence are helping with the blind. lepers. orphans. foster parents. public health. and rural electrification. The International Rescue Committee. in cooperation with AID. has accepted the responsibility for six medical teams to be assigned to refugee areas. Leading American drug companies already have donated a substantial supply of drugs for civilian use. and the Medical Civic Action Program will distribute them throughout Vietnam. International Voluntary Services has been operating a program in Vietnam since 1957. Under an AID contract. IVS has 50 young men serving throughout the rural regions. working on projects in agriculture. science education. teaching English. and in work with youth and * refugees. The number of refugees will soon exceed a million. and will seriously tax the resources of all agencies. The most pressing need. according to the American Council of Voluntary Agencies. is for more personnel. Supplies there are. but people are needed to help in the camps where 450.000 refugees are now being cared for. and in the villages to which they return or are resettled. Doctors. nurses. administrators. social welfare. and community development experts are wanted on short- and longterm assignments both by voluntary agencies and by AID. In spite of all the difficulties. the refugee problem in Vietnam is being handled with vigor. and great selfsacrifice. I. for one. want to see that every cent of the AID request is provided for this vital work.