No doubt widely differing opinions concerning the policy of the United States in Vietnam will be expressed. What will probably not be discussed very much is the tremendous suffering of the South Vietnamese people In this tragic war. The number of civilian casualties and refugees in South Vietnam is truly staggering. A report issued on March 4. 1966. by the Senate Subcommittee To Investigate Problems Connected With Refugees and Escapees had this to say concerning the number of refugees In South Vietnam: Last year. 1965. the numbers of refugees vastly increased. Their number was estimated by reliable authorities. to be some 200.000 in the early months of the year. By midyear this number had risen sharply to nearly 400.000. It was more than 600.000 in September. and nearly a million by the end of the year. There is no doubt that with a million refugees by the end of 1965 there are now. in 1967. well over that number. For those refugees who are lucky enough to be housed In refugee camps life is a squalid struggle for survival. The Senate report comments: The refugee camps. by and large. contained a series of long hutlike buildings to house refugees. The buildings were divided into single rooms with dirt floors. bamboo sides. and aluminum roofing. Health conditions were poor. Sanitation facilities and water supply were often inadequate. As bad as the situation is for civilian refugees. it is much worse for the civilian casualties. The issue of civilian casualties in South Vietnam was beyond the jurisdiction of the Senate committee. In fact. hard statistics are impossible to obtain.
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Refugees refugee refugees