Speech #920048073

Mr. President. the number of East Pakistan refugees in India is now over 4.000.000and the influx continues upward to 100.000 per day. Some 3.000.000 of these refugees are concentrated in the area of Calcutta in the State of West Bengal. The rest are found in other Indian areas bordering East Pakistan. with most of them in the State ofTripurawhose normal population of some 1.500.000 has been increased by at least onethird. Some of the refugees are being welcomed into the homes of relatives. But the bulk of them are found in makeshift camps near the border. in public buildings such as schools. or in open fields. Reports indicate that some 70 percent of the refugees are women and small children. Conditions among the refugees are grim. Their need for food. shelter. clothing. and medical care is great. And the prospect of their repatriation is not in sight. The estimated cost of caring for these refugees varies with the source and the standards used. The Indian Government puts the cost of feeding 4.000.000 refugees for 3 months at some $40.000.000 to $45.000.000--or some $78.000.00 to $92.000.000 for 6 months. This estimate is based on a daily diet of over 2.000 calories per refugee. The World Food Program puts the cost at some $32.000.000 to $36.000.000 for 3 months--or $65.000.000 to $72.000.000 for 6 months. This estimate is based on a daily diet of over 1.600 calories per refugee. Our own Government. using a daily diet of 1.600 calories per refugee. is estimating it will cost some $30 million to feed 4 million refugees for 3 monthsand some $60 million for 6 months. The State Department informs me that our own Government is prepared to carry up to 50 percent of this estimated cost. To date. however. only $2.5 million has been allocated. In this connection. U.S. voluntary agenciesincluding CARE. Catholic Relief Services. and Church World Services/Lutheran World Federationare currently feeding some 280.500 refugees under aid authorization. Subject to the availability of food. however. these agencies have a capacity to feed some 1.5 million persons. On April 23. the Government of India appealed to the United Nations for international humanitarian assistance. Today. nearly 6 weeks later. international relief operations are not underwayand. regrettably. in response to inquiries neither the United Nations nor our own Government is willing to say when these operations will begin. Meanwhile. the Indian Government is doing what it can to meet the humanitarian needs of the refugees with the limited resources available and with the help of the private voluntary agencies. Mr. President. it is clearer every day. that a massive human tragedy is developing. as a result of unrest and conflict in East Pakistan.